The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) licenses businesses that sell animals or show them to the public. But right now, people who have broken animal protection laws can still qualify for one of those licenses. Congress can close that loophole by passing the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act.

At one roadside zoo in Virginia, federal inspectors reported a freezer holding dead guinea pigs whose ribs and pelvises had been broken. The owner admitted the animals were killed by being smashed against a hard surface. In other inspections, authorities recorded dozens of violations, including camels with abscesses that weren’t treated properly, giraffes with cracked, overgrown hooves, and monkeys showing repeated signs of psychological distress.

Despite dozens of animal care citations stretching back decades, the USDA kept renewing the zoo’s license until 2024. The zoo is closed for now while its owners face state criminal charges. Under current federal rules, though, people like them can still qualify for a license.

The bill would bar the USDA from licensing dealers and exhibitors who have broken animal protection laws at the federal, state, or local level. It would stop people from dodging a suspended or revoked license by applying through a relative or another business. And licensed facilities would need yearly vet visits, preventive care, and a full surprise inspection every year to stay licensed.

Anyone who breaks the laws that protect animals shouldn’t get a federal license to keep handling them. That’s a rule people across the political spectrum can support. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune can bring this bill to a vote.

Sign the petition to tell Congress to pass the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act before another federal license goes to someone who has already hurt animals.