Krueger bill aims to prohibit wildlife trafficking in PA
Rep. Leanne Krueger June 4, 2025 | 11:34 AM
HARRISBURG, June 4 – State Rep. Leanne Krueger, D-Delaware, held a news conference today to discuss her legislation, H.B. 994, which would prohibit the trade of animal parts from protected species throughout Pennsylvania. The legislation was adopted by the House Judiciary Committee on a bipartisan vote of 25-1 today.
Krueger was joined by state Rep. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, state Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester, founder of the PA Animal Protection Caucus, and advocates from the nonprofit organization Humane World for Animals.
During the event, Humane World for Animals revealed the findings of an investigation it conducted into the ivory trade in Pennsylvania. The research showed an active ivory trade within the state, with online and brick-and-mortar sellers in as many as 18 counties.
Under the Federal Endangered Species Act and current PA state law, the sale of animal parts from endangered or threatened species is already illegal. However, there are exceptions within existing laws that allow some sellers to trade legally. Krueger’s bill would more comprehensively prohibit both selling and buying protected animal parts such as ivory and taxidermied wildlife within Pennsylvania and across state or international lines. In addition, it would outline clear civil penalties for participating in the trade.
“Iconic species of animals continue to face extinction due to the demand for their parts. In recent years, we’ve seen that traffickers target states with weaker laws and regulations for protected animal products. Compared to other states, Pennsylvania’s current regulations are weak, and this bill aims to change that,” said Krueger. “We have a duty to protect at-risk species from poaching, and we have a duty to protect our residents from unwittingly contributing to illegal wildlife trafficking.
“My legislation provides a concrete, actionable penalty system to deter people from participating in this awful trade.”
“The Animal Protection Caucus supports Representative Krueger’s bill to prohibit the trafficking of wild animal parts or products. We must do our part in the Commonwealth to protect these at-risk species,” said Shusterman. “We have some huge fighters for animal protection here in Harrisburg ready to increase the amount of effective animal welfare legislation in Pennsylvania and I’m excited Representative Tomlinson and Senators Pisciottano and Brown are joining me as co-chairs to continue this work.”
“I want to sincerely thank Representative Krueger for her dedication and leadership in advancing legislation to protect some of the world’s most iconic and endangered species,” said Briggs. “Her tireless work on this issue reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that Pennsylvania does not contribute to the global crisis of wildlife trafficking. By addressing the sale of at-risk animal parts here at home, she is helping to create a more humane world for animals and a more responsible future for us all.”
Speaking on the Humane World for Animals investigation, the organization’s Pennsylvania state director, Kristen Tullo said, “Our investigation shows the depth and breadth of ivory and other wild animal parts for sale across our state, revealing more than 380 products with a total listed price of nearly $38,000. Pennsylvanians should not be contributing to the cruel and senseless global trade of animal products.
“The laws governing the sale of wildlife products are complicated and gaps remain that could be addressed by passing H.B. 994, a critical bill championed by Representative Krueger. This bill would protect many more imperiled species not currently protected under state or federal law and also provide much-needed clarity by expressly prohibiting commerce in elephant ivory in the state. Lawmakers are doing the right thing by prioritizing this urgent issue.
“Countless animals across the globe are brutally killed for their body parts to fuel the wildlife trade. A trinket is not worth extinction.”