,i #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bici ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #bg1 #bjbc ,ms4 ,escobar 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,barragn1 ,ms4 ,norton1 and ,mr4 ,neguse7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,animal ,welfare ,act to prohibit the confinement of pregnant pigs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,pigs ,in ,gestation ,stalls ,act of #bjbc or the ,,pigs ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,intensive confinement of pigs is a significant animal welfare issue1 causing physical problems and psychological anguish for the animals4 7#b7 ,dozens of major food retailers and more than #aj ,states have taken action to phase out the use of intensive confinement for pigs1 reflecting the will and concerns of the public4 7#c7 ,at least two ,states have adopted policies to forbid the sale of pork from factory farms that use gestation crates1 with that policy predicated on human health and animal welfare concerns4 7#d7 ,as more consumers turn away from purchasing pork products derived from intensive confinement practices1 the pork industry will be better aligned with its customers by ending these unpopular and inhumane housing methods4 #c4 ,prohibition on confining breeding pigs 7a7 ,in general ,the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #baca et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cj4 ,prohibition on confining breeding pigs 7a7 ,prohibition 7#a7 ,in general ,it shall be unlawful for a person to cause any breeding pig to be confined in-- 7,a7 such a manner that prevents the pig from lying down1 standing up1 or turning around-- 7i7 in a complete circle without any impediment1 including a tether2 and 7ii7 without touching the side of an enclosure or another animal2 and 7,b7 beginning on ,december #ca1 #bjbc1 a space with less than #bd square feet of usable floorspace per pig1 as calculated under paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,exceptions ,the ,secretary shall not1 in applying paragraph 7#a71 consider a breeding pig to be confined in a cruel manner if such confinement occurs during-- 7,a7 transportation2 7,b7 examination1 testing1 treatment1 or an operation conducted for veterinary purposes1 but only if performed by or under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian2 7,c7 the five-day period before the pig's expected date of farrowing2 and 7,d7 slaughter conducted in accordance with the ,humane ,methods of ,slaughter ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aija et seq474 7#c7 ,calculation of usable floorspace ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a77;,b71 the total square footage of floorspace provided to each breeding pig in an enclosure shall be determined by dividing-- 7,a7 the total square footage of floorspace provided to all the animals in such enclosure2 by 7,b7 the number of animals in that enclosure4 7b7 ,penalties ,for the purpose of administering and enforcing this section1 the authorities provided under sections #ajdad and #ajdae of the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hcac and #hcad7 shall apply to this section in a similar manner as those sections apply to the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hcja et seq474 ,any person that violates the prohibition under subsection 7a7 shall be subject to penalties provided in such section #ajdad4 7c7 ,no preemption ,nothing in this section preempts any ,state or local laws1 regulations1 orders1 or other requirements with respect to animal welfare that are identical to or are in addition to the requirements of this section4 7d7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the authority of the ,secretary under this ,act or another ,federal law to protect animal welfare4 7e7 ,severability ,if this section is held unconstitutional as to some provisions or circumstances1 it shall remain in force as to the remaining provisions and other circumstances4 7f7 ,financial assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a program under which the ,secretary will provide financial assistance to pig producers to assist such producers in complying with the requirements of this section4 7#b7 ,priority ,the ,secretary shall allocate funds made available under paragraph 7#c7 among pig producers in a manner that prioritizes independent pig producers4 7#c7 ,funding ,the ,secretary shall amend the order in effect as of the date of the enactment of this section under section #afaf7;c7 of the ,pork ,promotion1 ,research1 and ,consumer ,information ,act of #aihe 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #dhje7;c771 to direct the ,national ,pork ,board1 notwithstanding section #afbj7;c7 of such ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #dhji7;c771 to set aside not less than #aj1jjj1jjj of the funds collected from assessments made under such ,act for the first fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of this section and the following fiscal year to provide assistance to pig producers1 as described in paragraph 7#a74 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term breeding pig means any female pig that is-- 7,a7 kept for the purpose of commercial breeding who is six months of age or older2 or 7,b7 pregnant4 7#b7 ,the term enclosure means any cage1 crate or other enclosure in which a pig is kept1 including1 a gestation crate4 7#c7 ,the term pig means any animal of the porcine species4 7#d7 ,the term independent pig producer means a pig producer who owns their own pigs and is not contracted to raise pigs that belong to another entity4 4 7b7 ,applicability ,the amendment made by this section shall apply beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act4