Commercial Transportation of Livestock and Poultry Bill

[Ebowed]

Commercial Transportation of Livestock and Poultry Bill

§1. Findings
   (a) The treatment of livestock and poultry during transport affects their value in interstate commerce.
   (b) It would be in the general welfare to ensure that livestock and poultry are treated humanely during transport so as to enhance their economic value.

§2. Definitions
   In this Act:
      (1) Commercial transportation
      The term "commercial transportation" means the regular operation for profit of a transport business that uses trucks, tractors, trailers, or semitrailers, or any combination thereof, propelled or drawn by mechanical power on any highway or public road.
      (2) Customarily raised as a domesticated animal for the purpose of slaughter
      The term "customarily raised as a domesticated animal for the purpose of slaughter" means that at least one of the following conditions is met:
         (A) at least 50 percent of the economic value of such species in Atlasia results from its slaughter and the resulting products,
         (B) at least 50 percent of the members thereof in Atlasia are slaughtered for economic use, or
         (C) the total economic value resulting from the slaughter of such species in Atlasia exceeds $50,000,000.
      (3) Livestock
      The term "livestock" means any member of a species of the class Mammalia customarily raised as a domesticated animal for the purpose of slaughter, regardless of whether the individal member is being raised for slaughter or for other purposes.
      (4) Person
      The term "person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, or cooperative association that regularly engages in the commercial transportation of livestock or poultry.
      (5) Poultry
      The term "poultry" means any member of a species of the class Aves customarily raised as a domesticated animal for the purpose of slaughter, regardless of whether the individal member is being raised for slaughter or for other purposes.   

§3. Regulation of Commercial Transportation of Livestock and Poultry
   (a) In General
   Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Agriculture may issue guidelines for the regulation of the commercial transportation of livestock or poultry by persons regularly engaged in that activity within the United States.
   (b) Issues for Review
   In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall review the food, water, and rest provided to livestock or poultry in transit, the segregation of males from other animals during transit, and such other issues as the Secretary considers appropriate.
   (c) Species Specific Regulations
   In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may specify different rules for different species of livestock or poultry where differences in behavior warrant specific treatment.  No regulation issued under this Act shall specify different rules for different breeds of the same species.
   (d) Additional Authority
   In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may -
      (1) require any person to maintain such records and reports pertaining to the commercial transportation of livestock or poultry as the Secretary considers necessary;
      (2) conduct such investigations into and inspections of the commercial transportation of livestock or poultry as the Secretary considers necessary; and
      (3) establish and enforce appropriate and effective civil penalties for failure to comply with this Act or the regulations promulgated thereunder.

§4. Repeal and Savings of Existing Law
   (a) Pub. L. 104-127, title IX, subtitle A, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1184 [7 U.S.C. 1901 note] providing for the regulation of the commercial transportation of equines for slaughter is repealed as of the passage of this Act.
   (b) Regulations previously issued by the Secretary of Agriculture under the law repealed by subsection (a) shall continue in force as if issued under this Act.


Sponsor: Sen. Ernest

[Ebowed]

Amendment:

...[T]he bill be amended to change all references to the Secretary of Agriculture to the President.


Voting's open.

[Ebowed]

Aye

[Ebowed]

This amendment has passed.

[Ebowed]

Commercial Transportation of Livestock and Poultry Bill

§1. Findings
   (a) The treatment of livestock and poultry during transport affects their value in interstate commerce.
   (b) It would be in the general welfare to ensure that livestock and poultry are treated humanely during transport so as to enhance their economic value.

§2. Definitions
   In this Act:
      (1) Commercial transportation
      The term "commercial transportation" means the regular operation for profit of a transport business that uses trucks, tractors, trailers, or semitrailers, or any combination thereof, propelled or drawn by mechanical power on any highway or public road.
      (2) Customarily raised as a domesticated animal for the purpose of slaughter
      The term "customarily raised as a domesticated animal for the purpose of slaughter" means that at least one of the following conditions is met:
         (A) at least 50 percent of the economic value of such species in Atlasia results from its slaughter and the resulting products,
         (B) at least 50 percent of the members thereof in Atlasia are slaughtered for economic use, or
         (C) the total economic value resulting from the slaughter of such species in Atlasia exceeds $50,000,000.
      (3) Livestock
      The term "livestock" means any member of a species of the class Mammalia customarily raised as a domesticated animal for the purpose of slaughter, regardless of whether the individal member is being raised for slaughter or for other purposes.
      (4) Person
      The term "person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, or cooperative association that regularly engages in the commercial transportation of livestock or poultry.
      (5) Poultry
      The term "poultry" means any member of a species of the class Aves customarily raised as a domesticated animal for the purpose of slaughter, regardless of whether the individal member is being raised for slaughter or for other purposes.   

§3. Regulation of Commercial Transportation of Livestock and Poultry
   (a) In General
   Subject to the availability of appropriations, the President may issue guidelines for the regulation of the commercial transportation of livestock or poultry by persons regularly engaged in that activity within the United States.
   (b) Issues for Review
   In carrying out this section, the President shall review the food, water, and rest provided to livestock or poultry in transit, the segregation of males from other animals during transit, and such other issues as the Secretary considers appropriate.
   (c) Species Specific Regulations
   In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may specify different rules for different species of livestock or poultry where differences in behavior warrant specific treatment.  No regulation issued under this Act shall specify different rules for different breeds of the same species.
   (d) Additional Authority
   In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may -
      (1) require any person to maintain such records and reports pertaining to the commercial transportation of livestock or poultry as the Secretary considers necessary;
      (2) conduct such investigations into and inspections of the commercial transportation of livestock or poultry as the Secretary considers necessary; and
      (3) establish and enforce appropriate and effective civil penalties for failure to comply with this Act or the regulations promulgated thereunder.

§4. Repeal and Savings of Existing Law
   (a) Pub. L. 104-127, title IX, subtitle A, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1184 [7 U.S.C. 1901 note] providing for the regulation of the commercial transportation of equines for slaughter is repealed as of the passage of this Act.
   (b) Regulations previously issued by the President under the law repealed by subsection (a) shall continue in force as if issued under this Act.


Voting is now open on final passage.

[Ebowed]

Aye

[Ebowed]

This bill has enough votes to pass.  Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[Ebowed]

With 6 ayes, this bill has passed.  It is presented to the President for his signature.