,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fiba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #ai1 #bjbj,mr4 ,abraham 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,yoho1 and ,mr4 ,schrader7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act with respect to the importation of live dogs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,healthy ,dog ,importation ,act4 #b4 ,importation of live dogs 7a7 ,in general ,the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hcja et seq47 is amended by inserting after section #ajdjd 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hcjc7 the following3 #ajdjd;,a4 ,importation of live dogs 7a7 ,requirements 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#c71 no person shall import a dog into the ,united ,states unless1 as determined by the ,secretary1 the dog-- 7,a7 is in good health2 7,b7 has received all necessary vaccinations and demonstrated negative test results required by the ,secretary1 as evidenced by a certificate-- 7i7 issued by a licensed veterinarian accredited by a competent veterinary authority recognized by the ,secretary2 and 7ii7 endorsed by such authority representing that the veterinarian issuing the certificate was authorized to do so2 and 7,c7 is officially identified by a permanent method approved by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,transfer ,except as provided in paragraph 7#c71 no person shall import or cause the transportation of a dog into the ,united ,states from a foreign country for the purpose of transfer unless1 as determined by the ,secretary1 the dog-- 7,a7 meets the criteria specified in paragraph 7#a72 7,b7 is at least #f months old2 and 7,c7 is accompanied by an import permit issued by the ,secretary under this ,act4 7#c7 ,exceptions ,the ,secretary1 by regulation1 shall provide an exception to any requirement under this ,act in any case in which a dog is imported for purposes of transfer for-- 7,a7 research purposes2 7,b7 veterinary treatment1 paid for by the importer1 provided that the dog is taken directly to a veterinary facility for treatment with appropriate quarantine until the dog meets the criteria specified in paragraph 7#a7 and is then exported to its country of origin2 or 7,c7 in the case of a dog that is less than #f months old1 lawful importation into the ,state of ,hawaii in compliance with the regulations of the ,state of ,hawaii and the other requirements of this section if the dog is not transported out of the ,state of ,hawaii for resale at less than #f months of age4 7b7 ,implementation and ,regulations ,the ,secretary1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 and the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 shall-- 7#a7 promulgate such regulations as the ,secretaries determine to be necessary to implement and enforce this section2 7#b7 facilitate electronic submission of all required documentation and make the submitted information available to the ,secretary1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 and the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security for verification upon arrival2 and 7#c7 determine and establish such fees for the issuance of permits and the inspection with respect to dog importation as necessary to fund implementation and enforcement of this section4 7c7 ,enforcement 7#a7 ,authority ,the ,secretary shall have the authority granted under section #ajdad to enforce this section4 7#b7 ,penalties ,an importer that fails to comply with this section shall-- 7,a7 be subject to penalties under section #ajdad2 and 7,b7 if such importer is a dealer1 provide1 as the ,secretary may determine1 at the expense of the importer1 for the care 7including appropriate veterinary care71 forfeiture1 quarantine1 and removal from the ,united ,states and return to its place of export with due care for the welfare of each applicable dog4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,importer ,the term importer means any person who transports or causes the transportation of a dog into the ,united ,states from a foreign country4 7#b7 ,transfer ,the term transfer means a change of ownership or control of an imported dog to another person1 including by sale1 adoption1 exchange1 or donation4 4 7b7 ,conforming repeal ,section #ah of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #badh7 is repealed4 #c4 ,transportation 7a7 ,definition of transporter ,section #b of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bacb7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7p7 ,the term transporter means any person1 department1 agency1 or instrumentality of the ,united ,states or of any ,state or local government1 other than a carrier or intermediate handler1 who receives an animal from any importer1 dealer1 research facility1 exhibitor1 operator of an auction sale1 or department1 agency1 or instrumentality of the ,united ,states or of any ,state or local government and receives compensation for moving such animal in commerce4 7q7 ,the term compensation means any act or consideration or thing of value received by a person directly1 including cash or noncash benefits1 cost-avoidance1 obtaining positive or avoiding negative publicity1 an exchange of services1 or maintaining a license issued under local1 ,state1 or ,federal government authority4 7r7 ,the term sell or resell means to transfer of ownership or control of an animal1 including by sale1 adoption1 exchange1 or donation4 4 7b7 ,humane standards ,section #ac of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #badc7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#d7-- 7,a7 in the first sentence1 by striking air carriers1 and inserting transporters1 air carriers12 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 ,the ,secretary shall provide1 by regulation1 that each transporter1 intermediate handler1 or carrier receiving a certificate of veterinary inspection required under this section shall submit a copy of the certificate to the ,secretary1 who shall record the information in a centralized1 publicly available database42 and 7#b7 by redesignating subsections 7g7 and 7h7 as subsections 7h7 and 7i71 respectively2 and 7#c7 by striking 7f7 ,no dogs or cats and inserting 7g7 ,no dogs or cats2 7#d7 in subsection 7g71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#c7-- 7,a7 in the first sentence-- 7i7 by inserting importer1 before dealer2 and 7ii7 by inserting 1 transporter1 after intermediate handler each place it appears2 and 7,b7 in the second sentence-- 7i7 by inserting 1 transporters1 after intermediate handlers2 and 7ii7 by striking section #aj of this ,act and inserting subsection 7a77#d74 #d4 ,regulations 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall issue final regulations to implement the amendments made by this ,act1 including the verification upon arrival that each dog being imported into the ,united ,states from a foreign country meets all applicable importation requirements and the denial of entry into the ,united ,states of any dog that fails to meet such requirements4 7b7 ,transition period ,until the date on which final regulations are issued under subsection 7a71 the importation of live dogs shall be regulated in accordance with the regulations issued under section #ah of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #badh7 in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this ,act1 but only to the extent that such regulations are not in conflict with section #ajdjd;,a of the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act 7as added by section #a74