Born Free USA applauds yesterday’s reintroduction of the Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 263) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Reintroduced by Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), this bill would ban the private possession of big cat species, with exemptions for zoos, universities, and bona fide sanctuaries. The bill also bans direct public contact with big cats, removing a strong incentive to breed big cats unchecked for profit. In December 2020, this important legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, but was not taken up by the Senate before the end of the 116th Congress. Born Free USA calls on the newly gaveled-in 117th Congress to quickly pass the reintroduced bill.