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HR 374 97th Congress House Animals Animals and Animal Protection Business and commerce Clothing industry Foreign Trade and Investments Fur trade Hunting Import restrictions Imports Leather industry Protection of animals Sports and Athletics Trapping

A bill to discourage the use of leg-hold or steel jaw traps on animals in the United States.

Introduced: January 5, 1981 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 6, 1981
Referred to Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.
Jan 5, 1981
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 5, 1981
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Declares it the public policy of the United States to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and use of leg-hold and steel-jaw traps in the United States and abroad.

Prohibits the shipment in interstate or foreign commerce of fur or leather products from animals trapped in a State or foreign country which has not banned such traps.

Requires the Secretary of Commerce to publish a list of States and foreign countries which have not banned such traps.

Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act.

What's happening now February 6, 1981

Referred to Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 374: A bill to discourage the use of leg-hold or steel jaw traps on animals in the United States.. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-374/
MLA
"H.R. 374: A bill to discourage the use of leg-hold or steel jaw traps on animals in the United States.." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-374/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 374, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-374/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 374: A bill to discourage the use of leg-hold or steel jaw traps on animals in the United States.](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-374/)
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