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H.R. 4211: Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act

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H.R. 4211: Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-08-27 · Animals · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-08-27 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act

Plain summary

Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act This bill revises the licensing process of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for animal dealers and exhibitors to expand USDA's oversight and enforcement of animal welfare requirements. The bill also authorizes citizen suits to enforce the Animal Welfare Act. Dealers and exhibitors must apply to USDA for licenses or renewal licenses each year. Before issuing or renewing licenses, USDA must conduct unannounced facility inspections. USDA must deny an application for a new license if the applicant fails to meet animal welfare standards during a second inspection, a renewal license if the applicant violates such standards in more than one inspection in the previous two years, or a new or renewal license if the dealer or exhibitor has violated laws relating to animals or if the issuance of the license would facilitate the circumvention of state or local laws that prohibit the private ownership of certain animals. Further, USDA must suspend the licenses of dealers or exhibitors whose violations present a risk to animal welfare. USDA must revoke the licenses if the violations persist or if the licensees commit multiple violations. Dealers and exhibitors with suspended or revoked licenses may not be (1) granted another license, (2) granted another license through another person or entity, or (3) employed by another licensee to work with animals during the period of the suspension or revocation.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] · 44 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Adam Smith (D-WA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Haley M. Stevens (D-MI)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] reported raising $3.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr4211 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116