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HR 2143 104th Congress House

Downed Animal Protection Act

Official title: To amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to make it unlawful for any stockyard owner, market agency, or dealer to transfer or market nonambulatory cattle… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to make it unlawful for any stockyard owner, market agency, or dealer to transfer or market nonambulatory cattle, sheep, swine, horses, mules, or goats, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 31, 1995 See on congress.gov
Animals Agriculture and FoodCommerceCrime and Law EnforcementEuthanasia
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Fines (Penalties)HealthLivestockLivestock industryProtection of animalsVeterinary medicine
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This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 29, 1996
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received from USDA.
Feb 8, 1996
Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Aug 2, 1995
Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry.
Jul 31, 1995
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Jul 31, 1995
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 29, 1996

Unfavorable Executive Comment Received from USDA.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Downed Animal Protection Act - Amends the Packers and Stockyard Act, 1921 to make it unlawful for any stockyard owner, market agency, or dealer to buy, sell, give, receive, transfer, market, hold, or drag any nonambulatory livestock unless such livestock has been humanely euthanized. Imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 7
All 7 Democratic 7
D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Feb 20, 1996
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Oct 26, 1995
 D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Sep 18, 1995
 D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Sep 6, 1995
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Jul 31, 1995
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Jul 31, 1995
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Jul 31, 1995
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2143: Downed Animal Protection Act. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2143/
MLA
"H.R. 2143: Downed Animal Protection Act." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2143/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2143, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2143/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2143: Downed Animal Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2143/)
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