,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #beee ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bg1 #bjbc,mr4 ,blumenthal 7for himself and ,mr4 ,kennedy7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,animal ,welfare ,act to expand and improve the enforcement capabilities of the ,attorney ,general1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,better ,collaboration1 ,accountability1 and ,regulatory ,enforcement for ,animals ,act of #bjbc or the ,better ,,care for ,animals ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,strengthening animal welfare enforcement 7a7 ,definitions ,section #b of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bacb7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b71 by striking of the ,united ,states or his representative who shall be an employee of the ,united ,states and inserting or a representative of the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 who shall be an employee of the2 7#b7 in subsection 7c77#a71 by adding or at the end after the semicolon2 and 7#c7 in each of subsections 7a7 through 7o7-- 7,a7 by inserting a subsection heading1 the text of which comprises the term defined in the subsection2 7,b7 by reordering the subsections so as to appear in alphabetical order based on the subsection headings 7as so added72 and 7,c7 by redesignating the subsections 7as so reordered7 appropriately4 7b7 ,sale or transportation without license ,section #d of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bacd7 is amended to read as follows3 #d4 ,sale or transportation without license ,no dealer or exhibitor shall do any of the following in commerce3 exhibit1 purchase1 offer to purchase1 sell1 offer to sell1 transport1 or offer for transportation any animal1 unless the dealer or exhibitor has a valid license from the ,secretary that has not been suspended4 4 7c7 ,investigations and inspections ,section #af7;c7 of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #badf7;c77 is amended in the fourth sentence by striking enforce1 and to prevent and restrain violations of this ,act1 and inserting enforce1 prevent1 and restrain violations of this ,act1 or any rule1 standard1 or regulation promulgated pursuant to this ,act14 7d7 ,civil penalty ,section #ai of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #badi7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7d71 in the first sentence1 by inserting 1 or any rule1 standard1 or regulation promulgated thereunder1 before shall2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7e7 ,rewards and certain incidental expenses ,with respect to the sums received by the ,secretary or the ,attorney ,general as penalties or fines for any violation of this ,act or any rule1 standard1 or regulation promulgated thereunder1 the ,secretary or the ,attorney ,general1 as applicable1 shall use those sums to pay the reasonable and necessary costs incurred by any person in providing temporary care for any animal pending the disposition of any civil or criminal proceeding alleging a violation of this ,act with respect to that animal4 4 7e7 ,enforcement by ,attorney ,general ,the ,animal ,welfare ,act is amended by inserting after section #ai 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #badi7 the following3 #bj4 ,enforcement by ,attorney ,general 7a7 ,in general ,the ,attorney ,general may bring a civil action in the appropriate district court of the ,united ,states for appropriate relief1 including a temporary restraining order1 preliminary or permanent injunction 7including for removal or relocation of animals71 license revocation1 and civil penalties of up to #aj1jjj for each violation for each day during which the violation continues1 against any person who violates any provision of this ,act or any rule1 standard1 or regulation promulgated thereunder4 7b7 ,seizure and forfeiture of animals 7#a7 ,in general ,any animal that is subjected to conduct that constitutes a violation of this ,act1 or any rule1 standard1 or regulation promulgated thereunder1 shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture to the ,united ,states in accordance with chapter #df of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,costs ,any person whose act or omission is the basis for a seizure authorized by subparagraph 7#a7 may be charged a reasonable fee for expenses to the ,united ,states relating to the transfer and care of the seized animal4 7c7 ,warrants ,the judges of the district courts of the ,united ,states and ,united ,states magistrate judges may1 within their respective jurisdictions1 on proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause1 issue such warrants or other processes as may be required for enforcement of this ,act and any rule1 standard1 or regulation promulgated thereunder4 7d7 ,savings clause 7#a7 ,attorney general ,no action taken by the ,attorney ,general pursuant to this section shall affect or limit the authority of the ,secretary to enforce any provision of this ,act or any rule1 standard1 or regulation thereunder4 7#b7 ,secretary ,no action taken by the ,secretary shall affect or limit the authority of the ,attorney ,general under this ,act4 4 7f7 ,authority ,to apply for injunctions ,section #bi7;b7 of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #baei7;b77 is amended by striking the second sentence4 7g7 ,severability ,the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #baca et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cj4 ,severability ,if any provision of this ,act1 or the application thereof1 is held invalid1 the validity of the remainder of this ,act and the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected4 4 7h7 ,memorandum of understanding ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the ,attorney ,general to carry out the authorities granted by the amendments made by this section1 including an agreement to provide the ,attorney ,general with timely information about violators who have multiple citations that seriously or adversely affect the health or well-being of an animal4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 section #af7;c7 of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #badf7;c77 establishes the jurisdiction of ,federal courts to address violations of1 and cases arising from violations of1 that ,act and provides the ,attorney ,general with the authority to bring such cases in ,federal court2 and 7#b7 the enforcement jurisdiction of the ,federal courts1 and the corresponding enforcement authority of the ,attorney ,general1 include violations of the rules1 standards1 and regulations promulgated under that ,act4