PUPS Act

II 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 4597 To require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to permit the entry into the United States of pets accompanying United States nationals repa- triating during public health emergencies. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mr. BOOKER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to permit the entry into the United States of pets accompanying United States nationals repatriating during public health emergencies. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 The Act may be cited as the ‘‘Permanently Uniting 4 Pets Stateside Act’’ or the ‘‘PUPS Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:29 Sep 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4597.IS S4597 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 4597 IS SEC. 2. ENTRY OF PETS OF UNITED STATES NATIONALS RE- 1 PATRIATING DURING PUBLIC HEALTH EMER- 2 GENCIES. 3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commissioner of U.S. Cus- 4 toms and Border Protection shall permit the entry into 5 the United States of a pet accompanying a covered indi- 6 vidual entering the United States without regard to the 7 requirements of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- 8 vention or the Department of Agriculture with respect to 9 the entry of pets into the United States if the individual 10 agrees to comply with those requirements as soon as prac- 11 ticable after entering the United States. 12 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 13 (1) COVERED INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘covered 14 individual’’ means an individual who— 15 (A) is a citizen of the United States or an 16 alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence 17 to the United States; 18 (B) has been living or traveling outside the 19 United States; and 20 (C) is returning to the United States dur- 21 ing a public health emergency declared under 22 section 319 of the Public Health Service Act 23 (42 U.S.C. 247d). 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:29 Sep 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4597.IS S4597 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 4597 IS (2) PET.—The term ‘‘pet’’ means a domestic 1 dog, cat, or bird. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:29 Sep 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S4597.IS S4597 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS