H.R. 263 · 117th Congress

Big Cat Public Safety Act

Introduced on Jan 11, 2021 by Mike Quigley (D-IL-5). 258 cosponsors, 52 of them from another party. Became Public Law 117-243.

Stage
Became law
Public Law 117-243
Introduced
Jan 11, 2021
Cosponsors
258
52 from the other party
Policy area
Animals
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Progress

The furthest stage the measure reached. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.

  1. Introduced
  2. Reported by committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Sent to the President
  6. Became law

Official title

To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to clarify provisions enacted by the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, to further the conservation of certain wildlife species, and for other purposes.

Subjects

  • Animal protection and human-animal relationships
  • Civil actions and liability
  • Crimes against animals and natural resources
  • Mammals
  • Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
  • Trade restrictions
  • Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary

By the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Dec 20, 2022). Public domain.

Big Cat Public Safety Act

This act revises requirements governing the trade of big cats (i.e., species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species) under the Lacey Act to limit the possession, breeding, and exhibition of big cats. The Lacey Act prohibits any person from importing, exporting, buying, selling, transporting, receiving, or acquiring big cats across state lines or the U.S. border. However, some exemptions are provided for certain entities, such as universities and wildlife sanctuaries.

(Sec. 3) The act expands the Lacey Act prohibitions to include a prohibition on possessing or breeding big cats. Breeding means facilitating propagation or reproduction (whether intentionally or negligently), or failing to prevent propagation or reproduction. Owners of big cats that were born before this act's enactment may keep their big cats, but the owners must register them with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The act modifies the list of entities that are exempt from prohibitions to export, buy, sell, transport, receive, acquire, possess, or breed big cats. The modified list includes exemptions for entities or facilities exhibiting animals to the public if they (1) hold a Class C license in good standing under the Animal Welfare Act, and (2) do not allow individuals to come into direct physical contact with big cats. However, direct contact is allowed if the individual is a trained professional, a veterinarian, or directly supporting conservation programs that do not involve commercial activities and meet other specified restrictions.

(Sec. 4) A person who knowingly violates the act must be fined not more than $20,000, or imprisoned for no more than five years, or both. The act considers each violation to be a separate offense. The offense must be deemed to have been committed not only in the district where the violation first occurred, but also in any district in which the defendant may have taken or been in possession of the prohibited wildlife species.

(Sec. 5) The act extends forfeiture provisions to fish, wildlife, or plants that are bred or possessed; thus, big cats bred or possessed in violation of the act are subject to forfeiture.

(Sec. 6) The Department of the Interior must issue regulations to implement this act.

Sponsor and cosponsors

Cosponsors by party as of the day they signed on. Original cosponsors signed on the day of introduction.

Mike QuigleyD-IL-5Sponsor

Democrats · 206

Republicans · 52

Roll calls

Recorded votes on the measure. Most measures move by voice vote or unanimous consent, which record no individual positions.

  1. On Passage
    Jul 29, 2022· House· Passage· Passed 278–134

History

Every action as published, oldest first. Roll calls link to how each member voted.

  1. Jan 11, 2021Introduced in House
  2. Jan 11, 2021Introduced in House
  3. Jan 11, 2021 · HouseReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
  4. Feb 18, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
  5. May 12, 2022 · HouseSubcommittee Hearings Held.
  6. Jun 8, 2022 · HouseSubcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.
  7. Jun 8, 2022 · HouseCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  8. Jun 15, 2022 · HouseOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 17.
  9. Jul 22, 2022Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-428.
  10. Jul 22, 2022 · HouseReported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-428.
  11. Jul 22, 2022 · HousePlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 334.
  12. Jul 26, 2022 · HouseRules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1256 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 263 and H.R. 4040. Resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill. H. Res. 517 is considered adopted.
  13. Jul 28, 2022 · HouseConsidered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1256. (consideration: CR H7388-7395)
  14. Jul 28, 2022 · HouseRule provides for consideration of H.R. 263 and H.R. 4040. Resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill. H. Res. 517 is considered adopted.
  15. Jul 28, 2022 · HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 263.
  16. Jul 28, 2022 · HouseDEBATE - The House resumed with debate on H.R. 263.
  17. Jul 28, 2022 · HousePOSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 263, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Westerman demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
  18. Jul 29, 2022 · HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7531-7532)
  19. Jul 29, 2022Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 278 - 134 (Roll no. 415).House · Roll call 415
  20. Jul 29, 2022 · HouseOn passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 278 - 134 (Roll no. 415). (text: 7/28/2022 CR H7388)House · Roll call 415
  21. Jul 29, 2022 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  22. Aug 1, 2022 · SenateReceived in the Senate, read twice.
  23. Dec 6, 2022Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  24. Dec 6, 2022 · SenatePassed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7005-7006)
  25. Dec 7, 2022 · SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
  26. Dec 16, 2022Presented to President.
  27. Dec 16, 2022 · HousePresented to President.
  28. Dec 20, 2022Signed by President.
  29. Dec 20, 2022Signed by President.
  30. Dec 20, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-243.
  31. Dec 20, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-243.

Committees

Committees and subcommittees the measure was referred to.

Agencies in its committees' jurisdiction

Analisa's mapping of committee jurisdiction to federal agencies; the bill may touch others, or none of these.

Sources and method

Every figure on this page traces to these records.

  • Bill status: bills and resolutions, sponsors, actions, subjects and CRS summaries (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo), from Congress.gov (Library of Congress))GovInfo Bill Status bulk data (Congress.gov; summaries by the Congressional Research Service) · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Members of Congress, their terms, committees and identifiers (The @unitedstates project (from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, the House and the Senate))unitedstates/congress-legislators: legislators, committees and current committee membership · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)
  • House roll-call votes (Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, roll-call vote records · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Senate roll-call votes and DW-NOMINATE scores (Voteview (UCLA Department of Political Science))Lewis, Jeffrey B., Keith Poole, Howard Rosenthal, Adam Boche, Aaron Rudkin, and Luke Sonnet (2026). Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database. https://voteview.com/ · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Free to use with the required citation
  • Lobbying disclosures (LD-1 registrations, LD-2 quarterly reports, LD-203 contribution reports) (Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives)Clerk of the House, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings (organizations only; lobbyists' names are not loaded) · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Positions are shown only where a roll call recorded them; voice votes and unanimous consent record none.