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HR 2185 119th Congress House Agriculture and Food

Mink VIRUS Act

Introduced: March 18, 2025 Introduced by: Espaillat, Adriano Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 18, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Mar 18, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 18, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Mink: Vectors for Infection Risk in the United States Act or the Mink VIRUS Act

This bill prohibits the farming of mink for their fur beginning one year after the bill's enactment and establishes a compensation program.

Beginning 90 days after the bill's enactment, any termination of farmed mink must be done in a manner that (1) meets the definition of euthanasia specified in Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations (i.e., the humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a method that produces rapid unconsciousness and subsequent death without evidence of pain or distress, or that utilizes anesthesia that causes painless loss of consciousness and subsequent death); and (2) is classified as acceptable by the American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.

This prohibition and these requirements do not preempt or limit any state law or regulation that is more restrictive. Further, any person in violation of this prohibition or these requirements is subject to civil penalties.

USDA must establish a payment program to compensate fur farm owners whose operations involve the farming of mink. Under the program, USDA must provide payments for (1) the reasonable costs incurred to comply with this bill, and (2) the market value of the portion of the farm involving mink farming (exclusive of the land). Fur farm owners may not use payment funds for fur farm operations. Further, the owner must provide USDA with a permanent property easement that prohibits the operation of any fur farm on the easement area.

What's happening now April 18, 2025

Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Lobbying activity 11

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

See all 11 filings →
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 4 Republican 1
D
Thanedar, Shri
Michigan · Jun 30, 2026
 D
Goldman, Daniel S.
New York · Apr 16, 2026
 D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · Mar 18, 2025
 R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Mar 18, 2025
 D
Frost, Maxwell
Florida · Mar 18, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2185: Mink VIRUS Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-2185/
MLA
"H.R. 2185: Mink VIRUS Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-2185/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2185, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-2185/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2185: Mink VIRUS Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-2185/)
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