MINKS are Superspreaders Act
Sponsored By: Representative Buchanan
Introduced
Summary
A federal ban on commercial mink farming. This bill would bar interstate and foreign commerce, breeding, and possession of American mink raised for fur and set up a government buy-out program for affected farms while allowing narrow Lacey Act exemptions.
Show full summary
- Owners of commercial mink farms would be prohibited from breeding, possessing, selling, transporting, or buying American mink raised for fur across state or national lines. The Secretary would be authorized to offer to purchase mink farms using a formula that factors a 3-year average herd size and the farm's infrastructure value.
- Traders, transporters, and retailers in the fur supply chain would be barred from moving or selling American mink raised for fur, including dead animals, parts, and offspring, in interstate or foreign commerce.
- Entities described in subparagraphs (A)–(E) of section 3(e)(2) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 are exempt from the prohibition.
- Buy-out payments are subject to the availability of appropriations, so the program would require Congress to fund any purchases.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Government buyouts for mink farms
If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary seek to buy privately owned mink farms, subject to Congress providing money. Offer amounts would be set using the farmer's most recent three-year average number of mink and the farm's infrastructure value. The bill does not set fixed dollar amounts for payments.
Ban on interstate mink farming
If enacted, the bill would ban moving, selling, buying, breeding, or holding American mink raised in captivity for fur across state lines or in foreign trade. The ban would cover live or dead mink, any parts, products, and offspring. It would not apply to certain entities listed under the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981. If passed, this could force many commercial mink operations to stop core business activities.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Buchanan
FL • R
Cosponsors
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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