Guides: Animal Law Research Guide: Statutes

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Animal Welfare Related Federal Acts

This section focuses on the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-544), better known as the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), and related acts such as the Horse Protection Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-540). The following links include the relevant regulatory agency and related materials on animal welfare related laws:

APHIS Center for Animal Welfare
United States Department of Agriculture. Charged with monitoring and enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, the Horse Protection Act, and Animal Care Emergency Programs.
Environmental and Natural Resources Division (ENRD)
Department of Justice. Responsible for prosecuting cases against those who violate the nation's environmental laws and defending the Federal government. ENRD's jurisdiction includes wildlife and marine resources, animal welfare, and wildlife trafficking.
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
Provides guidance on the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Also support educational programs and monitors compliance with the Policy by assured institutions.
Animal Welfare
The National Agricultural Law Center. Provides information on major statutes, regulations, case law, publications, and other related resources on animal welfare.
Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations: The Bluebook
United States Department of Agriculture. Provides information on the sections of the United States Codes for the Animal Welfare Act and the sections of the Code of Federal Regulations for Animal Welfare. Current as of January 1st, 2018.
Animal Welfare Act
USDA National Agricultural Library. Provides links to the Animal Welfare Act History Digital Collection, a Legislative history of the Animal Welfare Act, and other related documents.
Horse Protection Act.
USDA National Agricultural Library. Provides links to the text of the Horse Protection Act, regulations, the Horse Protection Act Fact Sheet, and other related documents.
Horse Protection Regulations (eCFR)
Covers the regulations for Horse Protection. Also available on Westlaw and Lexis.

Wild Horses and Burros

In 1971, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (P.L. 92-195) was passed and signed into law. This law determines how wild horse and burros on federal lands will be managed. The following links contain information regarding the relevant regulatory agencies and the relevant resources:

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
U.S. Department of the Interior. Manages public rangelands for various use such as livestock grazing, and wildlife habitats. Also, BLM protects and manages wild horses and burros on public lands, and puts up wild horses and burros for adoption.
Wild Horse and Burro Program (BLM)
In-depth information about the Wild Horse and Burro program from the Bureau of Land Management. Includes info about the program's history, herd management, adoptions and sales, etc.
The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971
Last updated in 2006. Provides the text of the act as amended by other laws and includes which laws amended the text and the parts of the text they amended.
Protection, Management, and Control of Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros (eCFR)
Contains regulations for wild free-roaming horses and burros. Also available on Westlaw and Lexis.

Animal Drug Related Acts

Like human medications, animal drugs and medicated feeds are regulated by the government as well. The following links include relevant regulatory agencies and related materials:

The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM)
Food and Drug Administration. Protects human and animal health by assuring animal drugs and medicated feeds are safe and effective and food from treated animals is safe to eat.
Animal Drug Availability Act of 1996 (ADAA)
CVM Page on the ADAA. Provides information on the changes made by the ADAA, the related CFR sections, and a link to the ADAA on Govinfo.
Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 (AMDUCA)
Provides information on AMDUCA, the relevant CFR parts, a link to the text of AMDUCA, and more information on Extralabel Use and Antimicrobials.
Generic Animal Drug and Patent Term Restoration Act (GADPTRA)
Provides information on the GADPTRA, a link to the text of the law, and related information.
Animal Drugs, Feeds, and Related Products (e-CFR)
Contains regulations for feed, drugs, and other products related to animals. Also available on Westlaw and Lexis.

Marine Related Laws

The Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and other related laws protect and regulate the marine fisheries in U.S. waters. The following links include the related regulatory agencies and relevant materials:

National Marine Fisheries
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Ensures the productivity and sustainability of fisheries and recovers and conserves protected resources including whales, turtles, and salmon.
Marine Mammal Commission
An independent oversight agency, which works to further the conservation of marine mammals and their environment as part of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conversation and Management Act (MSA)
Provides information on the MSA, which aims to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfishing stocks, increasing long-term economic and social benefits, and ensure a safe and sustainable supply of seafood. Includes links to the MSA text, information on the reauthorization act, and related documents.
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
Provides information on the MMPA, which created a national policy to prevent marine mammal species and population from declining beyond a point where they cease to be a functioning element of their ecosystem. Also, includes information on the amendments in 1992 and 1994, and other related documents.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Provides information on NOAA's actions related to NEPA and some related documents.
NOAA Additional Laws
Provides information on other laws related to NOAA, such as the American Fisheries Act, Billfish Conservation Act, Fur Seal Act, Lacey Act, and other related laws.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-205) protects critically endangered species from extinction and helps those same species recover. The following links provide access to the relevant regulatory agencies and related information.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Enforces federal wildlife laws, protects endangered species, manages migratory birds, restores significant fisheries, conserves/restores wildlife habitats, and other duties.
National Wildlife Health Center
U.S. Geological Survey. Monitors the impact of disease on wildlife populations, defines ecological relationships leading to the disease, provide guidance and training for reducing wildlife losses, and other duties.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Species Regulations & Policies
Includes Federal Register notices and citations for regulations related to general policies, habitat conversation, recovery progams and other topics.
Endangered Species Act (NOAA)
Provides information on NOAA Fisheries' shared responsibility to implement the ESA, Regulations, and other related documents.
Endangered Species Act
The National Agricultural Law Center. Provides Regulations, Case Law, Reference Resources, and other related resources.

Where to Find Federal Statutes

For an introduction to statutory research, see our Statutes Research Guide guide. The following is a list of sources for the full text of federal laws:

U.S. Statutes at Large (Stat.) - Free Web (GovInfo) Coverage: 1951 to 2011
U.S. Statutes at Large (Stat.) - In Print Call Number: KF50 .U5 (Williams 2nd Floor: Williams Reading Room)
U.S. Code (U.S.C.) - Free Web (OLRC) Available via the Office of the Law Revision Counsel (OLRC) of the U.S. House of Representatives. Coverage: 1995 to Present
U.S. Code (U.S.C.) - Free Web (GovInfo) Coverage: 1994 to Present
U.S. Code (U.S.C.) - In Print Call Number: KF62 2006 .A2 (Williams, Reading Room & 5th Fl.)
U.S. Code Annotated (U.S.C.A.) - Westlaw Paid subscription database; requires log in.
U.S. Code Annotated (U.S.C.A.) - In Print Call Number: KF62 1927.A3 (Williams Reading Room & 5th Fl.)
U.S. Code Service (U.S.C.S.) - Lexis Paid subscription database; requires log in.
U.S. Code Service (U.S.C.S.) - In Print Call Number: KF62 1972.U5 (Williams Reading Room & 5th Fl.)

Statutory Research Tutorial

Includes videos covering topics "What are Statutes and Where to Find Them," "Anatomy of a Code," "Finding Statutes Online," "Finding Statutes Using Print," and "Updating and Currency."

Animal Law Research Guide

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