Federal Circus Bill

The Traveling Exotic Animal & Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA) was reintroduced to the 117^th Congress on November 17 by Representatives Raúl Grijalva and David Schweikert, and Senator Bob Menendez. You can watch a replay of the launch here. The event’s guest speakers include the bill sponsors and celebrity guests speaking in support of the bill (HR5999 / S3220).

It is past time for the United States to join the nearly 50 countries that have already banned the use of wild and exotic animals in circuses. Although over 100 local ordinances have passed in 34 states, as well as statewide bans in New Jersey, Hawaii, California, and Colorado, circuses’ interstate travel and the subsequent challenges to oversight make this a federal issue. A circus may train animals in one state, but move them between a dozen or more states during the year. Local ordinances cannot address what happens to the animals outside their jurisdiction.