PUBLIC LAW 94-279—APR. 22, 1976
90 STAT. 417
Public Law 94-279 94th Congress An Act To amend the Act of August 24, 1966, as amended, to increase the protection afforded animals in transit and to assure humane treatment of certain animals, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Anwrica in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Animal Welfare Act Amendments of 1976". SEC. 2. Section 1 of the Act of August 24, 1966 (80 Stat. 350, as amended by the Animal Welfare Act of 1970, 84 Stat. 1560; 7 U. S. C 2131-2155) is amended to read as follows: "SECTION 1. (a) This Act may be cited as the 'Animal Welfare Act'. " (b) The Congress finds that animals and activities which are regulated under this Act 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 Act 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 t r e a t m e n t; " (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 Act, 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.". SEC. 3. Section 2 of such Act is amended— (1) by striking out subsection (c) and (d) thereof and inserting lieu thereof the following; " (c) The term 'commerce' means trade, traffic, transportation, or other commerce— " (1) between a place in a State and any place outside of such State, or between points within the same State but through any place outside thereof, or within any territory, possession, or the District of Columbia; " (2) which affects trade, traffic, transportation, or other commerce described in paragraph (1). " (d) The term 'State' means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or any other territory or possession of the United States;". (2) by striking out the term "affecting commerce" in subsections (e) and (f) and inserting in lieu thereof "in commerce"; (3) by revising paragraph (f) thereof to read as follows: " (f) The term 'dealer' means any person who, in commerce, for compensation or profit, delivers for transportation, or transports,
Apr. 22, 1976 [S. 1941]
Animal Welfare Act Amendments of 1976. 7 USC 2131 note. 7 USC 2131 note. 7 USC 2131.
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Definitions. 7 USC 2132.
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