Farm Bill
Amendment
Better Care for Animals Act
Keep "Better Care for Animals Act" OFF the Lame Duck Farm Bill
STOP the Weaponization of Government fo Enforce the Animal Welfare Act!
The Better Care for Animals Act shifts enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) from the USDA, to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which lacks knowledge of any kind in animal care. This shift in enforcement authority threatens animal enterprises, as it targets them with criminal penalties and potentially broaden licensing requirements to hobby breeders.
If passed, Better Care for Animals Act (H.R. 5041/S.2555) would impose the following:
Circumvents USDA Enforcement:
- The bill transfers enforcement authority from the USDA, to the DOJ.
- The DOJ has little experience in animal welfare and primarily focuses on criminal violations, increasing the risk of punitive enforcement without improving animal care standards.
Expands DOJ Power to Seize Animals:
- The DOJ would have the unprecedented power to file charges, seize animals, and impose penalties—even if the USDA has not identified any AWA violations.
- This could lead to excessive penalties and unjust seizures without due process, harming responsible breeders and their animals.
Risk to Hobby Breeders and Small Operations:
- By extending enforcement to the DOJ, this act risks requiring small-scale, hobby breeders to meet commercial breeding standards.
- Small breeders could face unnecessary regulations that fail to consider the unique needs of low-volume, family-run breeding operations, creating barriers to lawful, responsible breeding.
Precedent of Government Overreach:
- The Department of Justice and USDA’s current "Memorandum of Understanding" under Better Care for Animals Act on Civil Enforcement of the AWA represents severe government overreach.
- By moving enforcement away from USDA with animal-based knowledge, this bill could encourage future policies that bypass established regulatory frameworks, threatening animal enterprises across the board.