Congress targets cockfighting via rooster ban—but exempts big farms
H.R. 7371 — No Flight, No Fight Act of 2026 · Filed by Troy Nehls (R-TX) · 31 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 4, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill prohibits air carriers from transporting adult roosters (male chickens over 6 months old) on commercial flights within the U.S. or internationally, citing aviation safety, biosecurity, and operational efficiency concerns. The bill exempts large commercial farms (those with $350,000+ annual gross income) that transport roosters for legitimate agricultural purposes, provided they submit certification to the airline before transport.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a straightforward prohibition on rooster air transport, but the operative effect is narrowed by an exemption for large commercial farms, making it functionally a restriction on small-scale and illegal rooster shipments while preserving industrial agricultural logistics.
What the text implies
- The $350,000 annual gross income threshold for 'commercial farm' exemption is not indexed to inflation and may become increasingly permissive over time, potentially allowing larger operations to claim exemptions while the stated safety rationale remains constant.
- The bill requires air carriers to verify farm certification and financial records, imposing compliance and administrative costs on airlines without explicit appropriation for FAA oversight or enforcement infrastructure.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
large-scale commercial poultry producers (exempted from restriction); airlines (reduced operational disruption from large-farm exemption); industrial egg and meat producers (explicitly protected in findings)