[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4108 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4108
To amend the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966
to prohibit the possession or use of body-gripping traps in the
National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 24, 2025
Mr. Nadler (for himself, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Cohen, Ms. DelBene, Mr.
Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Meng, Ms. Norton, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Huffman, and Mr.
Casten) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966
to prohibit the possession or use of body-gripping traps in the
National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act''.
SEC. 2. POSSESSION OR USE OF BODY-GRIPPING TRAP PROHIBITED.
(a) In General.--The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration
Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 4(f), by striking ``this Act'' each place it
appears and inserting ``this section''; and
(2) by inserting after section 4 the following:
``SEC. 4A. POSSESSION OR USE OF BODY-GRIPPING TRAP PROHIBITED.
``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a person
may not possess or use a body-gripping trap in the System.
``(b) Exceptions.--
``(1) Federal agency.--Subsection (a) does not apply to the
possession or use of a body-gripping trap by a Federal agency--
``(A) to--
``(i) control an invasive species to
achieve resource management objectives; or
``(ii) protect a species that--
``(I) is listed as threatened or
endangered under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
or
``(II) the Secretary has designated
as a sensitive species; and
``(B) if--
``(i) such use is in accordance with
Federal and State law; and
``(ii) all other viable nonlethal methods
for achieving a goal described in subparagraph
(A) have been thoroughly explored, described,
and attempted and documentation of such
activities is maintained at the relevant
headquarters of the Federal agency that carried
out such exploration, description, and attempt.
``(2) Dismantling.--Subsection (a) does not apply to the
dismantling of body-gripping traps.
``(3) Alaska.--Subsection (a) does not apply to the System
in Alaska.
``(4) Members of indian tribes.--Subsection (a) does not
apply to the possession or use of a body-gripping trap by a
member of a federally recognized Indian Tribe for subsistence
purposes.
``(c) Penalties.--
``(1) In general.--A person who violates subsection (a)
shall be subject to--
``(A) a civil fine of not more than $500 for--
``(i) each body-gripping trap possessed;
and
``(ii) each use of a body-gripping trap;
``(B) imprisonment for not more than 180 days; or
``(C) both a civil fine and imprisonment in
accordance with subparagraphs (A) and (B).
``(2) Adjustment for inflation.--The Secretary shall
annually adjust the fine described in paragraph (1) to reflect
the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department
of Labor.
``(d) Forfeiture.--Any body-gripping trap that is possessed or used
in violation of this section, and any wildlife captured through the use
of such body-gripping trap, including a pelt or raw fur of such
wildlife, shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States in
accordance with the provisions of chapter 46 of title 18, United States
Code, relating to civil forfeitures.
``(e) Payment of Associated Court Costs.--A person found to be in
violation of subsection (a) shall pay all associated court costs.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Body-gripping trap.--The term `body-gripping trap'--
``(A) means any device that is intended to kill or
capture wildlife by physically restraining any part of
the animal;
``(B) includes any--
``(i) steel-jaw, padded, or other modified
leghold trap;
``(ii) kill-type trap;
``(iii) snare trap; or
``(iv) modified version of any trap
described in clauses (i) through (iii); and
``(C) does not include any--
``(i) cage or box trap; or
``(ii) suitcase-type live beaver trap.
``(2) Invasive species.--The term `invasive species' means,
with regard to a particular ecosystem, a non-native organism
the introduction of which causes or is likely to cause economic
or environmental harm, or harm to human, animal, or plant
health.''.
(b) Regulations.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Interior
shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out the
amendments made by subsection (a).
(2) Enforceability.--The enforceability of the amendments
made by subsection (a) shall not be affected by a failure of
the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations under
paragraph (1).
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on the date that is 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this section.
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