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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10867 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10867
To prohibit the importation of certain species of sloth, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 22, 2026
Mr. Frost (for himself and Ms. Lee of Florida) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in
addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the importation of certain species of sloth, 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 ``Stopping Legalized Organized
Trafficking and Harm to Sloths Act of 2026'' or the ``SLOTHS Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN SPECIES OF SLOTH.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), it is
unlawful for any person to import any individual of a covered sloth
species.
(b) Exception.--A person may import an individual of a covered
sloth species, in whole or in part, if--
(1)(A) the individual or part thereof is dead; and
(B) such importation is carried out for research purposes,
as demonstrated by the person through documentation to the
satisfaction of the Secretary; or
(2)(A) such importation is carried out--
(i) to move the individual to a covered
institution; and
(ii) in accordance with a breeding program of a
covered institution; and
(B) the person demonstrates through documentation to the
satisfaction of the Secretary that the individual was not taken
in the wild after the date of the enactment of this section.
(c) Penalties.--
(1) Civil penalties.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), any person that violates this section may be
assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more
than $20,000 for each such violation.
(B) Notice.--No civil penalty may be assessed under
subparagraph (A) unless the person accused of the
violation is given notice and opportunity for a hearing
with respect to the violation.
(C) Separate offenses.--Each violation shall be a
separate offense and the offense shall be deemed to
have been committed not only in the district where the
violation first occurred, but also in any district in
which a person may have taken or been in possession of
the said sloth.
(2) Criminal penalties.--
(A) In general.--Whoever knowingly violates this
section shall be fined not more than $100,000.
(B) Separate offenses.--Each violation shall be a
separate offense and the offense shall 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 a sloth.
(3) Cancellation of federal authorizations.--If a person is
found to have violated this section, the Secretary shall cancel
any Federal license, permit, or other authorization issued to
the person by the Secretary that authorizes the person--
(A) to import or export fish or wildlife or plants;
or
(B) to operate a quarantine station or rescue
center for imported fish or wildlife or plants.
(4) Secretary not liable for certain payments.--The
Secretary is not liable for the payment of any compensation,
reimbursement, or damages in connection with the cancellation
of any license, permit, or other authorization pursuant to this
section.
(d) Forfeiture.--
(1) In general.--Any individual of a covered sloth species
imported contrary to the provisions of this section or any
regulation issued pursuant thereto, shall be subject to
forfeiture to the United States.
(2) Application of customs laws.--
(A) In general.--All provisions of law relating to
the seizure, forfeiture, and condemnation of property
for violation of the customs laws, the disposition of
such property or the proceeds from the sale thereof,
and the remission or mitigation of such forfeiture,
shall apply to the seizures and forfeitures incurred,
or alleged to have been incurred, under the provisions
of this section, insofar as such provisions of law are
applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of
this section.
(B) Exercise of powers under customs laws.--All
powers, rights, and duties conferred or imposed by the
customs laws upon any officer or employee of the
Treasury Department may, for the purposes of this
section, also be exercised or performed by the
Secretary or by such persons as the Secretary may
designate.
(C) Issuance of warrants.--Any warrant for search
or seizure issued pursuant to this section shall be
issued in accordance with rule 41 of the Federal Rules
of Criminal Procedure.
(3) Storage cost.--Any person convicted of an offense, or
assessed a civil penalty, under subsection (c) shall be liable
for the costs incurred in the storage, care, and maintenance of
any individual of a covered sloth species seized in connection
with the violation concerned.
(4) Civil forfeitures.--Civil forfeitures under this
section shall be governed by the provisions of chapter 46 of
title 18, United States Code.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered institution.--The term ``covered institution''
means an institution, zoo, aquarium, or other facility
accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
(2) Covered sloth species.--The term ``covered sloth
species'' means a species of the suborder Folivora.
(3) Fish or wildlife.--The term ``fish or wildlife'' has
the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Lacey Act
Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371).
(4) Import.--The term ``import'' has the meaning given the
term in section 2 of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16
U.S.C. 3371).
(5) Person.--The term ``person'' includes any individual,
partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation,
association, trust, estate, or other legal entity.
(6) Plant.--The term ``plant'' has the meaning given the
term in section 2 of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16
U.S.C. 3371).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
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