Bill SponsorBILLSPONSOR
Bill Sponsor
Politicians
Bills
House Bill 8052
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act of 2020
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Aug 14, 2020
Overview
Text
Introduced in House 
Aug 14, 2020
Not Scanned for Linkage
About Linkage
Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
Bill Sponsor is currently only finding exact word-for-word section matches. In a future release, partial matches will be included.
Introduced in House(Aug 14, 2020)
Aug 14, 2020
Not Scanned for Linkage
About Linkage
Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
Bill Sponsor is currently only finding exact word-for-word section matches. In a future release, partial matches will be included.
Jump To
H. R. 8052 (Introduced-in-House)


116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8052


To establish an Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 14, 2020

Mr. Neguse (for himself, Mr. Gaetz, Mr. Cohen, and Mr. Carter of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To establish an Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act of 2020”.

SEC. 2. Findings.

Congress finds the following:

(1) There is a significant connection between animal cruelty and violence against humans, domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, homicide, gang activity, drug trafficking, and other crimes.

(2) Animal fighting activity may increase the spread of diseases transmitted between animals and people.

(3) A number of Federal laws have been enacted to address cruelty to animals.

(4) Recognizing the connection between animal cruelty and serious crimes the Federal Bureau of Investigation tracks animal cruelty crimes.

(5) There is bipartisan and widespread public support for addressing animal cruelty.

(6) There is a government interest in ensuring laws are robustly enforced for the betterment and protection of society.

(7) The lack of a dedicated animal crimes enforcement unit within the Department of Justice has resulted in unacceptable delays in prosecutions, and an overall lack of prosecution, of animal crimes.

(8) Dedicated staff and resources at the Department of Justice will facilitate successful enforcement of animal cruelty laws, which often have unique investigative elements, by providing specialized knowledge and focus, and streamlining the handling of these offenses.

SEC. 3. Animal Cruelty Crimes Section of the Department of Justice.

(a) Establishment.—There is established an Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division to enforce Federal laws prohibiting animal cruelty under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice.

(b) Purpose.—The purpose of the Animal Cruelty Crimes Section is to enforce Federal laws prohibiting animal cruelty under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice and to vigorously pursue investigations and prosecutions under such laws.

(c) Coordination.—The Animal Cruelty Crimes Section shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other agencies, as appropriate.

(d) Report.—On the date that is one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Animal Cruelty Crimes Section shall submit to Congress a report on, for the previous year—

(1) the number of charges that were filed for violations of laws described in subsection (b), disaggregated by the law alleged to have been violated, the State in which the violation was alleged to have occurred, and the number of convictions; and

(2) the number of investigations of violations of laws described in subsection (b) for which charges were not filed.