Official Bill Info

• Latest Action: Nov 29, 2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  I know the most recent action for this bill is as follows: "Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry." on Nov 29, 2011
• Committee Assignment: House Agriculture

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  This bill has been assigned to the House Agriculture committee.
• Committee Assignment: House Agriculture - Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  This bill has been assigned to the House Agriculture - Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry committee.

Bill Statistics on OpenCongress

Contribution Data

Most-commented sections of the bill text

Highest Rated User Comments

• On January 26, 2012, by MICircusFan - I am writing as your constituent in the 8th Congressional district of Michigan. I STRONGLY OPPOSE HR3359 Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act. Whether Circus animals are abused or not ... and whether they should be kept in captivity, are TWO separate issues and should be addressed and legislated separately. Unless you've actually experienced it yourself, you have no idea of the depth of commitment and love required to train and keep animals ... especially circus animals. Multiple generations have supported their families working with animals ... and oftentimes those animals have become family members as well. If you can't visit a circus yourself, read the blogs of circus people (great list on followthecircus.com), read comments from performers and fans alike ... http://www.facebook.com/pages/Circus-Fans-Association-of-America/201199523257568?sk=wall&filter=1. And what will you do with all the animals? Let them go, shoot them, put them in a zoo? Who will pay for that?

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by MICircusFan, a user on OpenCongress.org, on January 26, 2012, "I am writing as your constituent in the 8th Congressional district of Michigan. I STRONGLY OPPOSE HR3359 Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act. Whether Circus animals are abused or not ... and whether they should be kept in captivity, are TWO separate issues and should be addressed and legislated separately. Unless you've actually experienced it yourself, you have no idea of the depth of commitment and love required to train and keep animals ... especially circus animals. Multiple generations have supported their families working with animals ... and oftentimes those animals have become family members as well. If you can't visit a circus yourself, read the blogs of circus people (great list on followthecircus.com), read comments from performers and fans alike ... http://www.facebook.com/pages/Circus-Fans-Association-of-America/201199523257568?sk=wall&filter=1. And what will you do with all the animals? Let them go, shoot them, put them in a zoo? Who will pay for that?"
• On February 03, 2012, by courtneybc - I am a constituent of the 2nd congressional district of Tennessee. I very strongly support H.R. 3359. While some circuses may treat their animals appropriately, a lot of them don't (Ringling bros. to be exact). Either way, they use abuse to train the animals, especially the elephants. This is because the tricks that they want them to do are unnatural, how can anyone with a heart support this? Forcing animals to do something that is unnatural using abuse just for the purpose of entertainment, only after they have literally been taken out of their natural habitat. Please try to look at it from the viewpoint of the animal. They weren't created to live in that environment. People that work with the circus can tell themselves that the animals are happy all they want, but that doesn't change the fact that no creature (human or animal) would be happy if they were chained up, constantly forced to do something unnatural, received abuse for things out of their control, and had zero freedom.

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by courtneybc, a user on OpenCongress.org, on February 03, 2012, "I am a constituent of the 2nd congressional district of Tennessee. I very strongly support H.R. 3359. While some circuses may treat their animals appropriately, a lot of them don't (Ringling bros. to be exact). Either way, they use abuse to train the animals, especially the elephants. This is because the tricks that they want them to do are unnatural, how can anyone with a heart support this? Forcing animals to do something that is unnatural using abuse just for the purpose of entertainment, only after they have literally been taken out of their natural habitat. Please try to look at it from the viewpoint of the animal. They weren't created to live in that environment. People that work with the circus can tell themselves that the animals are happy all they want, but that doesn't change the fact that no creature (human or animal) would be happy if they were chained up, constantly forced to do something unnatural, received abuse for things out of their control, and had zero freedom. "
• On February 03, 2012, by courtneybc - There are organizations that take in and care for these abused and traumatized animals. There is one in particular that has already taken in several circus animals, including bull elephants. They are non-profit and receive donations. Some of the elephants have been taken care of, financially, by Bob Barker. There are plenty of people that want to see these tortured animals live better lives, which is where the money comes from.

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by courtneybc, a user on OpenCongress.org, on February 03, 2012, "There are organizations that take in and care for these abused and traumatized animals. There is one in particular that has already taken in several circus animals, including bull elephants. They are non-profit and receive donations. Some of the elephants have been taken care of, financially, by Bob Barker. There are plenty of people that want to see these tortured animals live better lives, which is where the money comes from. "

Highly Rated Blog Articles

• Speaking up for the animals | Break The Chain - May 19, 2012 by animaldefendersinternational - Lindsey thought, and she picked the topic of animal abuse in circuses and highlighted the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (HR 3359). Introduced by Animal Defenders International (ADI) with Representative Jim Moran ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by animaldefendersinternational on May 19, 2012, "Lindsey thought, and she picked the topic of animal abuse in circuses and highlighted the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (HR 3359). Introduced by Animal Defenders International (ADI) with Representative Jim Moran ..." (/url?q=http://breakthechainus.com/2012/05/18/speaking-up-for-the-animals/&sa=U&ei=_m2-T_G3MYfs2QW6u52IDw&ved=0CE4QmAEwCA&usg=AFQjCNFYIc4D_VnbSOzWOJ0v0R0CphYGqw)
• Speaking up for the animals | Break The Chain - May 19, 2012 by animaldefendersinternational - Lindsey thought, and she picked the topic of animal abuse in circuses and highlighted the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (HR 3359). Introduced by Animal Defenders International (ADI) with Representative Jim Moran ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by animaldefendersinternational on May 19, 2012, "Lindsey thought, and she picked the topic of animal abuse in circuses and highlighted the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (HR 3359). Introduced by Animal Defenders International (ADI) with Representative Jim Moran ..." (/url?q=http://breakthechainus.com/2012/05/18/speaking-up-for-the-animals/&sa=U&ei=Svq7T8yML-Wq2QXw_pynDw&ved=0CDwQmAEwBA&usg=AFQjCNF3uFb4NgShaVDWlSsTnN8H2EbNwQ)
• Speaking up for the animals | Break The Chain - May 18, 2012 by animaldefendersinternational - Lindsey thought, and she picked the topic of animal abuse in circuses and highlighted the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (HR 3359). Introduced by Animal Defenders International (ADI) with Representative Jim Moran ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by animaldefendersinternational on May 18, 2012, "Lindsey thought, and she picked the topic of animal abuse in circuses and highlighted the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (HR 3359). Introduced by Animal Defenders International (ADI) with Representative Jim Moran ..." (/url?q=http://breakthechainus.com/2012/05/18/speaking-up-for-the-animals/&sa=U&ei=mwvBT6LROMfisQLI8-3eCQ&ved=0CFMQmAEwCQ&usg=AFQjCNEj_EehAz51JXDwwkpxDRt6NqqO5g)

Highly Rated News Articles

• Big-cat show harmful to animals, dangerous - July 14, 2012 by WatertownDailyTimes.com - I urge you all who are reading this to please look up the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R.3359) that is currently being reviewed in Congress. As for Mr. Rosaire’s comment about many animal rights advocates “believe all of these ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by WatertownDailyTimes.com on July 14, 2012, "I urge you all who are reading this to please look up the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R.3359) that is currently being reviewed in Congress. As for Mr. Rosaire’s comment about many animal rights advocates “believe all of these ..." (http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20120714/OPINION02/707149995)
• Big-cat show harmful to animals, dangerous - July 14, 2012 by WatertownDailyTimes.com - I urge you all who are reading this to please look up the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R.3359) that is currently being reviewed in Congress. As for Mr. Rosaire’s comment about many animal rights advocates “believe all of these ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by WatertownDailyTimes.com on July 14, 2012, "I urge you all who are reading this to please look up the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R.3359) that is currently being reviewed in Congress. As for Mr. Rosaire’s comment about many animal rights advocates “believe all of these ..." (http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20120714/OPINION02/707149995/-1/opinion)
• This animal lover is not wild about the circus - June 15, 2012 by newjerseyhills.com - On Nov. 2, 2011, Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., introduced the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act H.R. 3359, a bill vital to public safety and to ending this cruelty. If passed, this federal bill would amend the AWA to restrict the use of exotic and ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by newjerseyhills.com on June 15, 2012, "On Nov. 2, 2011, Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., introduced the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act H.R. 3359, a bill vital to public safety and to ending this cruelty. If passed, this federal bill would amend the AWA to restrict the use of exotic and ..." (http://newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/this-animal-lover-is-not-wild-about-the-circus/article_d89b8fba-b607-11e1-9e8f-001a4bcf887a.html)