§ 2131. — Congressional statement of policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC2131]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 54--TRANSPORTATION, SALE, AND HANDLING OF CERTAIN ANIMALS
Sec. 2131. Congressional statement of policy
The Congress finds that animals and activities which are regulated
under this chapter are either in interstate or foreign commerce or
substantially affect such commerce or the free flow thereof, and that
regulation of animals and activities as provided in this chapter is
necessary to prevent and eliminate burdens upon such commerce and to
effectively regulate such commerce, in order--
(1) to insure that animals intended for use in research
facilities or for exhibition purposes or for use as pets are
provided humane care and treatment;
(2) to assure the humane treatment of animals during
transportation in commerce; and
(3) to protect the owners of animals from the theft of their
animals by preventing the sale or use of animals which have been
stolen.
The Congress further finds that it is essential to regulate, as provided
in this chapter, the transportation, purchase, sale, housing, care,
handling, and treatment of animals by carriers or by persons or
organizations engaged in using them for research or experimental
purposes or for exhibition purposes or holding them for sale as pets or
for any such purpose or use.
(Pub. L. 89-544, Sec. 1(b), formerly Sec. 1, Aug. 24, 1966, 80 Stat.
350; Pub. L. 91-579, Sec. 2, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1560; renumbered
and amended Pub. L. 94-279, Sec. 2, Apr. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 417.)
Amendments
1976--Pub. L. 94-279 restated and expanded objectives of this
chapter to include regulation of animals and activities in, or
substantially affecting, interstate or foreign commerce in order to
prevent and eliminate burdens on such commerce and to assure the humane
treatment of animals during transportation.
1970--Pub. L. 91-579 restated objectives to include all animals as
defined instead of only cats and dogs and expanded coverage to regulate
animals intended for use for exhibition purposes or for use as pets.
Effective Date of 1985 Amendment
Pub. L. 99-198, title XVII, Sec. 1759, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1650,
provided that: ``This subtitle [subtitle F (Secs. 1751-1759), enacting
section 2157 of this title, amending sections 2132, 2143 to 2146, and
2149 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this
section] shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act [Dec. 23, 1985].''
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Section 23 of Pub. L. 91-579 provided that: ``The amendments made by
this Act [enacting section 2155 of this title, amending this section and
sections 2132, 2133, 2134, 2135, 2136, 2137, 2138, 2139, 2140, 2141,
2142, 2143, 2144, 2145, 2146, 2147, 2149, and 2150 of this title,
repealing section 2148 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as
notes under this section] shall take effect one year after the date of
enactment of this Act [Dec. 24, 1970], except for the amendments to
sections 16, 17, 19, and 20 of the Act of August 24, 1966 [sections
2146, 2147, 2149, and 2150 of this title], which shall become effective
thirty days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 24, 1970]''.
Short Title of 1976 Amendment
Section 1 of Pub. L. 94-279 provided: ``That this Act [enacting
section 2156 of this title, amending this section, sections 2132, 2134,
2136, 2139 to 2146, 2149, 2153 to 2155 of this title, and section 3001
of Title 39, Postal Service, repealing section 2150 of this title, and
enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] may be cited as
the `Animal Welfare Act Amendments of 1976'.''
Short Title of 1970 Amendment
Section 1 of Pub. L. 91-579 provided: ``That this Act [enacting
section 2155 of this title, amending this section and sections 2132,
2133, 2134, 2135, 2136, 2137, 2138, 2139, 2140, 2141, 2142, 2143, 2144,
2145, 2146, 2147, 2149, and 2150 of this title, repealing section 2148
of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this
section] may be cited as the `Animal Welfare Act of 1970'.''
Short Title
Section 1(a) of Pub. L. 89-544, as added by section 2 of Pub. L. 94-
279, provided: ``That this Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as
the `Animal Welfare Act'.''
Congressional Findings for 1985 Amendment
Pub. L. 99-198, title XVII, subtitle F (Secs. 1751-1759), Sec. 1751,
Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1645, provided that: ``For the purposes of this
subtitle [see Effective Date of 1985 Amendment note above], the Congress
finds that--
``(1) the use of animals is instrumental in certain research and
education for advancing knowledge of cures and treatment for
diseases and injuries which afflict both humans and animals;
``(2) methods of testing that do not use animals are being and
continue to be developed which are faster, less expensive, and more
accurate than traditional animal experiments for some purposes and
further opportunities exist for the development of these methods of
testing;
``(3) measures which eliminate or minimize the unnecessary
duplication of experiments on animals can result in more productive
use of Federal funds; and
``(4) measures which help meet the public concern for laboratory
animal care and treatment are important in assuring that research
will continue to progress.''
Extended Definition of ``Animal''
Pub. L. 99-198, title XVII, 1756(b), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1650,
provided that: ``For purposes of this Act [see Tables for
classification], the term `animal' shall have the same meaning as
defined in section 2(g) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2132(g)).''
