Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
Introduced
Summary
Stronger federal enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. This bill would require valid licenses for dealers and exhibitors, expand enforcement tools for federal prosecutors and the Secretary of Agriculture, and allow larger fines and animal seizure to stop ongoing harms.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
License needed to trade or show animals
Dealers and exhibitors would need a valid, unsuspended USDA license to buy, sell, show, or transport animals in commerce. Unlicensed or suspended operators would have to stop these activities. This would take effect upon enactment.
Higher federal penalties for animal violations
The Attorney General would be able to sue in federal court to stop Animal Welfare Act violations. Courts could order animal removal or relocation and revoke licenses. Civil fines could be up to $10,000 for each violation for each day it continues. Animals involved could be seized and forfeited. People whose acts led to a seizure could be charged reasonable transfer and care costs. USDA and the Justice Department would set an information‑sharing agreement within 180 days of enactment.
Payback for temporary animal caregivers
If you temporarily care for an animal while a case is pending, you could be repaid for reasonable costs. Money would come from fines or penalties the government collects. Only reasonable and necessary costs would be paid.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Reschenthaler
PA • R
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 5/5/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 5/8/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Himes
CT • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 5/19/2025
Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1]
AZ • R
Sponsored 5/29/2025
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/29/2025
Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
OH • R
Sponsored 6/2/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/11/2025
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/11/2025
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Neal
MA • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Buchanan
FL • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/27/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Scott, David
GA • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/22/2025
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
CA • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 9/11/2025
Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
PA • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
SC • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28]
FL • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
NJ • R
Sponsored 10/21/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Gonzalez, V.
TX • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Aguilar
CA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
CT • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Turner (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Mannion
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Hoyer
MD • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Scott (VA)
VA • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
OH • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Castro (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
NY • R
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 12/19/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 12/19/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Lee (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov