HR2185Referred to Committee

Mink VIRUS Act

Share:
Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2025-03-18
Introduced
5
Cosponsors
HR
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Adriano Espaillat
Adriano Espaillat
Democrat · NY · Representative
Votes with party: 97.3% (600 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/E000297

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (5)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

2025-04-18

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

Currently in

Previously

Plain-English Summary

Mink: Vectors for Infection Risk in the United States Act or the Mink VIRUS Act This bill prohibits the farming of mink for their fur beginning one year after the bill's enactment and establishes a compensation program. Beginning 90 days after the bill's enactment, any termination of farmed mink must be done in a manner that (1) meets the definition of euthanasia specified in Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations (i.e., the humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a method that produces rapid unconsciousness and subsequent death without evidence of pain or distress, or that utilizes anesthesia that causes painless loss of consciousness and subsequent death); and (2) is classified as acceptable by the American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. This prohibition and these requirements do not preempt or limit any state law or regulation that is more restrictive. Further, any person in violation of this prohibition or these requirements is subject to civil penalties. USDA must establish a payment program to compensate fur farm owners whose operations involve the farming of mink. Under the program, USDA must provide payments for (1) the reasonable costs incurred to comply with this bill, and (2) the market value of the portion of the farm involving mink farming (exclusive of the land). Fur farm owners may not use payment funds for fur farm operations. Further, the owner must provide USDA with a permanent property easement that prohibits the operation of any fur farm on the easement area.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

Subjects

Agriculture and Food
Full bill text is not yet cached locally.
Open text viewRead on Congress.gov

Related legislation

Bills by the same sponsor or covering overlapping subjects.