Legis Daily

PACT Act

USA115th CongressS-654| Senate 
| Updated: 12/15/2017
Patrick Toomey

Patrick Toomey

Republican Senator

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (36)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Joe Donnelly (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Rob Portman (Republican)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Richard Burr (Republican)

Judiciary Committee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act or the PACT Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise and expand provisions with respect to animal crushing. It retains existing criminal offenses that prohibit knowingly creating or distributing an animal crush video using interstate commerce. The bill also adds a new provision to criminalize an intentional act of animal crushing. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to seven years, or both. It provides additional exceptions for conduct, or a video of conduct, including conduct that is: (1) medical or scientific research, (2) necessary to protect the life or property of a person, (3) performed as part of euthanizing an animal, or (4) unintentional.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

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Timeline
Mar 15, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Mar 15, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 14, 2017
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S8049)
Dec 14, 2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S8049)
Dec 14, 2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 14, 2017
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8049)
Dec 14, 2017
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8049)
Dec 15, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 15, 2017
Received in the House.
  • March 15, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 15, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • December 14, 2017
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S8049)


  • December 14, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S8049)


  • December 14, 2017
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 14, 2017
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8049)


  • December 14, 2017
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8049)


  • December 15, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • December 15, 2017
    Received in the House.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 115-1494: To revise section 48 of title 18, United States Code, and for other purposes.
Animal protection and human-animal relationshipsCrimes against animals and natural resourcesDigital mediaInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaPhotography and imagingTelevision and film

PACT Act

USA115th CongressS-654| Senate 
| Updated: 12/15/2017
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act or the PACT Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise and expand provisions with respect to animal crushing. It retains existing criminal offenses that prohibit knowingly creating or distributing an animal crush video using interstate commerce. The bill also adds a new provision to criminalize an intentional act of animal crushing. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to seven years, or both. It provides additional exceptions for conduct, or a video of conduct, including conduct that is: (1) medical or scientific research, (2) necessary to protect the life or property of a person, (3) performed as part of euthanizing an animal, or (4) unintentional.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 15, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Mar 15, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 14, 2017
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S8049)
Dec 14, 2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S8049)
Dec 14, 2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 14, 2017
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8049)
Dec 14, 2017
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8049)
Dec 15, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 15, 2017
Received in the House.
  • March 15, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 15, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • December 14, 2017
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S8049)


  • December 14, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S8049)


  • December 14, 2017
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 14, 2017
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8049)


  • December 14, 2017
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8049)


  • December 15, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • December 15, 2017
    Received in the House.
Patrick Toomey

Patrick Toomey

Republican Senator

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (36)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Joe Donnelly (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Rob Portman (Republican)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Richard Burr (Republican)

Judiciary Committee, Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 115-1494: To revise section 48 of title 18, United States Code, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Animal protection and human-animal relationshipsCrimes against animals and natural resourcesDigital mediaInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaPhotography and imagingTelevision and film