H.R. 7371

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7371 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7371

To restrict the air transportation of certain live animals in 
interstate and foreign commerce to enhance aviation safety, 
biosecurity, and operational efficiency in civil aviation, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 4, 2026

Mr. Nehls (for himself, Ms. Titus, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Carter of 
Louisiana, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. 
Gooden, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Ciscomani, Ms. Lofgren, and Mr. Carbajal) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To restrict the air transportation of certain live animals in 
interstate and foreign commerce to enhance aviation safety, 
biosecurity, and operational efficiency in civil aviation, 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 ``No Flight, No Fight Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Civil aviation, including the carriage of cargo by air, 
is critical to the national transportation system and economy 
of the United States.
(2) The transportation of certain live animals by air, 
particularly adult roosters, presents unique challenges to 
aviation safety, biosecurity, and airline operational 
efficiency, including risks of stress-induced behavior, 
potential disease transmission, and disruptions during flight.
(3) Rapid air transport of adult roosters has been 
associated with facilitating illegal activities, such as 
cockfighting, which poses additional biosecurity risks through 
unregulated movement of birds that may carry avian diseases.
(4) Restricting non-essential air shipments of adult 
roosters, while preserving exemptions for large-scale 
commercial poultry operations, will promote safer and more 
efficient air cargo operations without disrupting legitimate 
agricultural supply chains in the commercial egg and meat 
industries.
(5) The Federal Aviation Administration and the Department 
of Transportation have authority over the safety and regulation 
of civil aviation, including the carriage of cargo by aircraft.

SEC. 3. RESTRICTION ON AIR TRANSPORTATION OF ADULT ROOSTERS.

(a) In General.--Chapter 449 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

SEC. 4. RESTRICTION ON AIR TRANSPORTATION OF ADULT ROOSTERS.

(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no air 
carrier or other person operating an aircraft in interstate or foreign 
air transportation shall knowingly transport an adult rooster as cargo.
(b) Exemption for Commercial Farms.--The prohibition under 
subsection (a) shall not apply if--
(1) the transport of the adult rooster(s) originates from 
or is destined for a commercial farm; and
(2) the transport is conducted for legitimate agricultural 
purposes.
(c) Certification.--Any person claiming an exemption under 
subsection (b) shall provide documentation certifying that the 
originating or destination farm qualifies as a commercial farm, 
including financial records or attestations consistent with guidelines 
of the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of 
Agriculture to the air carrier prior to the transport of the adult 
rooster(s). No air carrier may accept an adult rooster for transport 
without certification.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Adult rooster.--The term ``adult rooster'' means a male 
chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) that has reached sexual 
maturity, typically characterized by the development of spurs, 
a large comb, and crowing behavior, and is at least 6 months of 
age.
(2) Air carrier.--The term ``air carrier'' has the meaning 
given such term in section 40102.
(3) Commercial farm.--The term ``commercial farm'' means 
any farm with $350,000 or more in annual gross cash farm income 
(including sales of crops and livestock, government payments, 
and other farm-related income), as classified by the Economic 
Research Service of the United States Department of 
Agriculture.
(4) Interstate or foreign air transportation.--The term 
``interstate or foreign air transportation'' has the meaning 
given the term ``interstate air transportation'' in section 
40102, including transportation in foreign air commerce.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 449 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``44949. Restriction on air transportation of adult roosters''.

SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT.

The Secretary of Transportation shall enforce this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act, in coordination with the Federal Aviation 
Administration, and may promulgate such regulations as are necessary to 
carry out its provisions. Violations shall be subject to civil 
penalties under chapter 463 of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 6. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be 
construed to preempt any State law that provides greater protections 
for aviation safety or imposes stricter restrictions on the air 
transportation of live animals.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 180 
days after the date of enactment.
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