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H.R. 349: Goldie’s Act

This legislation, known as Goldie’s Act, aims to strengthen the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act in the United States. It proposes several changes to existing laws regarding the treatment of animals by dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, and other operators involved in animal-related activities. Below is a summary of the key components of the bill:

Definition of Violations

The bill introduces a clearer definition of what constitutes a "violation" of the Animal Welfare Act. A violation is defined as any deficiency, deviation, or failure to comply with the Act's provisions or the regulations and standards issued under it.

Increased Inspections and Investigations

The bill mandates increased inspections and investigations by the Secretary of Agriculture. Key points include:

The Secretary must determine whether any regulated entities, such as dealers or research facilities, are violating the Animal Welfare Act.
Access to the business premises, facilities, animals, and records of these entities is granted to the Secretary at reasonable times.
The Secretary is required to conduct inspections of each research facility and other regulated entities at least once a year, with additional follow-up inspections if any violations are found.
Inspectors are authorized to confiscate or humanely destroy animals that are suffering as a result of violations. Importantly, the owners will be prohibited from destroying these animals until the Secretary has completed the confiscation.

Agency Cooperation

The bill requires that any records of violations identified during inspections be shared with local animal control or law enforcement officials within 24 hours, ensuring prompt action can be taken against any identified issues.

Penalties for Violations

Goldie’s Act enhances the penalties for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which include:

A civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation.
Notices will be required to be given before applying penalties or cease-and-desist orders, allowing the violator an opportunity to be heard.
The hearings for alleged violations will include veterinary and animal care expert involvement.
Penalties can take into account the size of the business, the severity of the violation, the good faith of the violator, and prior violation history.

Implementation of Guidelines

The bill calls for the Secretary of Agriculture to establish guidelines that discourage future violations by specifying the appropriate penalties based on the circumstances of violations. The guidelines are to be designed to ensure adherence and accountability within the industry.

Relevant Companies

None found.

This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.

Actions

3 actions

Date	Action
Feb. 14, 2025	Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Jan. 13, 2025	Introduced in House
Jan. 13, 2025	Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Corporate Lobbying

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