HR 2920: Amendments to the Lacey Act
UPDATE: HR 2920 is a reintroduction of the “Captive Primate Safety Act.” The bill seeks to add all non-human primates as “prohibited wildlife species” under Chapter 53 of the Lacey Act. This bill will add primates to the current list of “prohibited wildlife species”: lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such a species.
It is unlawful for any person to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, or in a manner substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce, any live animal of any prohibited wildlife species.
You can view the text at http://goo.gl/9bhnLo.
Primates include 72 genera. This includes lemurs, marmosets, bushbabies, tamarins, all monkeys, etc.
INITIAL POST: A bill has been introduced by Rep. Michael G. Fitzpatrick that will seek to amend the language of the Lacey Act and ban interstate transportation of prohibited wildlife species. It has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. USARK will supply updates as available.
HR 2920 – To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to prohibit importation, exportation, transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition, and purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, or in a manner substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce, of any live animal of any prohibited wildlife species.
Sponsor: Rep. Michael G. Fitzpatrick (PA): www.itzpatrick.house.gov
Co-sponsors:
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR): www.blumenauer.house.gov
Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL): www.buchanan.house.gov
Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (CT): www.delauro.house.gov
Rep. John B. Larson (CT): www.larson.house.gov
Rep. Peter T. King (NY): www.peteking.house.gov
NOTE: This same sponsor (Fitzpatrick) introduced HR 2856 previously. That was a bill to add non-human primates as “prohibited wildlife species” under Chapter 53 of Lacey. This may be a reintroduction and may not involve reptiles.