Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act of 2020

II 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 4601 To establish an Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Ms. MCSALLY, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. KENNEDY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 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 Re- sources Division, and for other purposes. 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 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Animal Cruelty En- 4 forcement Act of 2020’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds the following: 7 (1) There is a significant connection between 8 animal cruelty and violence against humans, domes- 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:02 Sep 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4601.IS S4601 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 4601 IS tic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, homicide, 1 gang activity, drug trafficking, and other crimes. 2 (2) Animal fighting activity may increase the 3 spread of diseases transmitted between animals and 4 people. 5 (3) A number of Federal laws have been en- 6 acted to address cruelty to animals. 7 (4) Recognizing the connection between animal 8 cruelty and serious crimes the Federal Bureau of In- 9 vestigation tracks animal cruelty crimes. 10 (5) There is bipartisan and widespread public 11 support for addressing animal cruelty. 12 (6) There is a government interest in ensuring 13 laws are robustly enforced for the betterment and 14 protection of society. 15 (7) The lack of a dedicated animal crimes en- 16 forcement unit within the Department of Justice has 17 resulted in unacceptable delays in prosecutions, and 18 an overall lack of prosecution, of animal crimes. 19 (8) Dedicated staff and resources at the De- 20 partment of Justice will facilitate successful enforce- 21 ment of animal cruelty laws, which often have 22 unique investigative elements, by providing special- 23 ized knowledge and focus, and streamlining the han- 24 dling of these offenses. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:02 Sep 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4601.IS S4601 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 4601 IS SEC. 3. ANIMAL CRUELTY CRIMES SECTION OF THE DE- 1 PARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an Ani- 3 mal Cruelty Crimes Section within the Environment and 4 Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice 5 to enforce Federal laws prohibiting animal cruelty under 6 the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice. 7 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Animal Cruelty 8 Crimes Section is to enforce Federal laws prohibiting ani- 9 mal cruelty under the jurisdiction of the Department of 10 Justice and to vigorously pursue investigations and pros- 11 ecutions under such laws. 12 (c) COORDINATION.—The Animal Cruelty Crimes 13 Section shall coordinate with the Department of Agri- 14 culture, the Office of Inspector General of the Department 15 of Agriculture, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 16 United States Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border 17 Protection, and other agencies, as appropriate. 18 (d) REPORT.—On the date that is 1 year after the 19 date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 20 the Animal Cruelty Crimes Section shall submit to Con- 21 gress a report on, for the previous year— 22 (1) the number of charges that were filed for 23 violations of laws described in subsection (b), 24 disaggregated by the law alleged to have been vio- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:02 Sep 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4601.IS S4601 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 4601 IS lated, the State in which the violation was alleged to 1 have occurred, and the number of convictions; and 2 (2) the number of investigations of violations of 3 laws described in subsection (b) for which charges 4 were not filed. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:02 Sep 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S4601.IS S4601 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS