Washington, DC—Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) introduced the Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act, legislation to improve enforcement of existing animal welfare laws to protect farm animals transported domestically in the United States. 

“Not only do lax federal regulations on farm animal transportation create inhumane and cruel conditions, but these inefficiencies in the law are also causing many animals to succumb to disease and injury during these long journeys which can be passed on to humans,” said Congresswoman Titus. “By raising fit-for-travel standards in addition to creating mechanisms to actively enforce the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, we can tackle this persistent issue in our food chain while protecting the lives of these animals.” 

“Inadequate enforcement of the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, coupled with the continued interstate transport of animals unfit to travel, is contributing to needless animal suffering and endangering the health and safety of millions of animals — and humans,” said Susan Millward, executive director and chief executive officer at the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI). “Passing the Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act is the bare minimum Congress can do to help ensure that animals healthy enough to travel are not deprived of basic protections, and that ill or otherwise impaired animals are not forced to endure grueling journeys that further compromise their health and welfare.”

Background

The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act would:

1. Require the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a mechanism to monitor compliance with the Twenty-Eight Hour Law.
2. Prohibit the interstate transport of livestock deemed unfit for travel due to sickness, injury, or other conditions. 

Originally passed in the 19th century, the Twenty-Eight Hour Law is the sole source of protection for farm animals being transported across state lines and over long distances, requiring the animals to be offloaded for food, water, and rest if they have travelled for 28 hours or more. These regulations, however, are unenforced, with the USDA only making twelve inquiries into violations of the law in the last 15 years. To remedy these loopholes, the bill would require the USDA and DOT to definitively decide on methods to conduct inspections and ensure compliance of the law. 

While U.S. regulations on international animal exports guarantee livestock are healthy and fit to travel, interstate transportation lacks similar requirements. Without these guidelines, sickly and newborn animals are permitted to be transported over long distances, contributing to the spread of pathogens like the recent Bird Flu outbreak. By making our domestic transportation requirements adhere to U.S. export standards, weak and infirm animals will be kept out of danger and our food systems will be protected from disease outbreaks. 

The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act is endorsed by Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF), and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Original cosponsors of the bill include Representatives Blumenauer (OR-03), Norton (DC-01), Cohen (TN-09), and Schiff (CA-30).  

Congresswoman Titus has been a lifelong advocate for animal protection, earning a 100+% rating from the Humane Society Legislative Fund on their 2023 Humane Scorecard. She has led efforts to stop government agencies from wasting taxpayer dollars on inhumane animal experiments and introduced legislation to ensure animals are rescued and cared for during emergencies and natural disasters.

The full bill text can be found HERE.