HR6513-119

What This Bill Does

The MINKS are Superspreaders Act adds a new Animal Welfare Act section prohibiting most commercial activity involving captive American mink raised for fur production. Except for entities covered by specified Lacey Act exceptions, no person may transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, or breed or possess, any American mink raised in captivity for fur production, whether dead or alive, including any part, product, or offspring. The bill also creates a buyout mechanism: subject to appropriations, the Secretary must seek to purchase privately owned mink farms. The offer amount must account for the most recent three-year average number of mink owned by the farmer and the infrastructure value of the farm. The bill therefore combines a market prohibition on captive mink fur production with a compensation pathway for farm owners if Congress provides funding.

Who Benefits and How

Public health agencies benefit if the ban reduces disease-risk concerns associated with dense captive mink operations. Animal welfare advocates benefit because the bill would end breeding and possession of American mink for fur production in covered commerce. Neighboring communities benefit if buyouts close operations that create zoonotic disease, odor, or waste concerns. Mink farm owners benefit from the possibility of a federal purchase offer that considers herd size and infrastructure value rather than only imposing a ban.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Mink fur farmers bear the main burden because the bill blocks breeding, possession, sale, transport, purchase, and receipt of captive American mink for fur production. Fur processors and buyers lose access to covered mink products and offspring in interstate or foreign commerce. The Secretary must design and administer a buyout program if appropriations are available, including valuations based on three-year herd averages and infrastructure. Federal taxpayers bear buyout costs if Congress funds purchases.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits transport, sale, receipt, acquisition, purchase, breeding, and possession of captive American mink raised for fur production.
• Applies the prohibition to live mink, dead mink, parts, products, and offspring.
• Provides exceptions for specified Lacey Act entities.
• Creates a subject-to-appropriations federal buyout for privately owned mink farms.
• Requires buyout offers to consider the most recent three-year average mink count and farm infrastructure value.