,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hhbh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #b1 #bjbj,ms4 ,adams 7for herself and ,mrs4 ,lowey7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,ways and ,means1 and ,foreign ,affairs1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to restrict the use of steel-jaw leghold traps and ,conibear traps on animals in the ,united ,states4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,public ,safety and ,wildlife ,protection ,act4 #b4 ,declaration of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states to reduce risks to public safety1 as well as unnecessary harm to companion animals and wildlife1 from indiscriminate and injurious trapping methods by prohibiting the import or export of1 and the shipment in interstate commerce of1 steel-jaw leghold traps and ,conibear traps4 #c4 ,prohibited acts and penalties 7a7 ,prohibited acts ,it shall be unlawful for any person-- 7#a7 to import1 export1 deliver1 carry1 or transport by any means whatever1 in interstate commerce1 any steel-jaw leghold trap or ,conibear trap2 or 7#b7 to sell1 receive1 acquire1 or purchase any steel-jaw leghold trap or ,conibear trap that was delivered1 carried1 or transported in violation of paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,penalties ,whoever knowingly violates subsection 7a7 shall1 in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed1 be subject to the following3 7#a7 ,for the first such violation1 a civil fine of not more than #ejj imposed by the ,secretary for each steel-jaw leghold trap or ,conibear trap possessed4 7#b7 ,for each subsequent violation1 a civil fine of not more than #a1jjj imposed by the ,secretary for each steel-jaw leghold trap or ,conibear trap possessed1 or imprisonment for not more than #b years1 or both4 7c7 ,payment of court costs and other associated expenses ,a person found to be in violation of subsection 7a7 shall pay all court costs associated therewith4 #d4 ,rewards 7a7 ,general rule ,the ,secretary shall pay1 to any person who furnishes information that leads to a conviction of a violation of any provision of this ,act or any rule made under this ,act1 an amount equal to one-half of the fine paid pursuant to the conviction4 7b7 ,exception ,any officer or employee of the ,united ,states or of any ,state or local government who furnishes information or renders service in the performance of his or her official duties is not eligible for payment under this section4 #e4 ,enforcement 7a7 ,in general ,except with respect to violations of this ,act to which subsection 7b7 applies1 this ,act and any rules made under this ,act shall be enforced by the ,secretary1 who may use by agreement1 with or without reimbursement1 the personnel1 services1 and facilities of any other ,federal agency or any ,state agency for purposes of enforcing this ,act and such rules4 7b7 ,import and export violations 7#a7 ,import violations ,the importation of articles in violation of section #c7;a7 shall be treated as a violation of the customs laws of the ,united ,states1 and those provisions of law relating to violations of the customs laws of the ,united ,states shall apply thereto4 7#b7 ,export violations ,the authorities under the ,export ,administration ,act of #aigi 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 ,app4 #bdja et seq47 7as continued in effect under the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act71 including penalties1 shall be used to enforce the provisions of this ,act relating to the export of articles in violation of section #c7;a74 7c7 ,forfeiture 7#a7 ,general rule ,except with respect to exports to which the provisions of the ,export ,administration ,act of #aigi 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 ,app4 #bdja et seq47 7as continued in effect under the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act7 apply1 and imports to which the customs laws of the ,united ,states apply1 pursuant to subsection 7b71 any steel-jaw leghold trap or ,conibear trap taken1 possessed1 sold1 purchased1 offered for sale or purchase1 imported1 exported1 transported1 delivered1 received1 carried1 or shipped in violation of this ,act or any rule made under this ,act1 shall be subject to forfeiture to the ,united ,states4 ,those provisions of law relating to-- 7,a7 the seizure1 summary and judicial forfeiture1 and condemnation of property for violations of the customs laws of the ,united ,states2 7,b7 the disposition of such property or the proceeds from the sale thereof2 7,c7 the remission or mitigation of such forfeitures2 and 7,d7 the compromise of claims1 shall apply to seizures and forfeitures incurred1 or alleged to have been incurred1 under the provisions of this subsection1 insofar as applicable and not inconsistent with this ,act4 7#b7 ,enforcement ,such duties as are imposed upon the customs officer or any other person with respect to the seizure and forfeiture of property under the customs laws of the ,united ,states may be performed with respect to seizures and forfeitures of property under this subsection by the ,secretary or such officers and employees as may be authorized or designated for that purpose by the ,secretary1 or1 upon the request of the ,secretary1 by any other agency that has authority to manage and dispose of seized property4 7d7 ,injunctions ,the ,attorney ,general of the ,united ,states may seek to enjoin any person who is alleged to be in violation of this ,act or any rule made under this ,act4 7e7 ,cooperation ,the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 and the head of any other department or agency with enforcement responsibilities under this ,act shall cooperate with the ,secretary in ensuring that this ,act1 and rules made under this ,act1 are enforced in the most effective and efficient manner4 #f4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,steel-jaw leghold trap ,the term steel-jaw leghold trap-- 7,a7 means any spring-powered pan or sear-activated device with one or two opposing steel jaws1 whether the jaws are smooth1 toothed1 padded1 enclosed 7dog-proof71 or offset1 that is designed to capture an animal by snapping closed upon the animal's limb1 foot1 or part thereof2 and 7,b7 does not include any cage or box trap2 suitcase-type live beaver trap2 or mouse or rat snap trap4 7#b7 ,conibear trap ,the term ,conibear trap-- 7,a7 means any trap consisting of two metal frames hinged at the center point and powered by two torsion springs to create a scissor-like action designed to kill an animal by snapping an animal's spinal column2 and 7,b7 does not include any cage or box trap2 suitcase-type live beaver trap2 mouse or rat snap trap4 7#c7 ,customs laws of the ,united ,states ,the term customs laws of the ,united ,states means any other law or regulation enforced or administered by the ,united ,states ,customs ,service4 7#d7 ,import ,the term import means to land on1 bring into1 or introduce into1 any place subject to the jurisdiction of the ,united ,states1 whether or not such landing1 bringing1 or introduction constitutes an entry into the customs territory of the ,united ,states4 7#e7 ,interstate commerce ,the term interstate commerce has the meaning given such term in section #aj of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #g4 ,rulemaking ,the ,secretary may make rules to carry out this ,act4 #h4 ,effective date ,this ,act shall take effect #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act4