[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1802 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1802
To prohibit the use of animals in federally funded research, promote
the adoption of humane and scientifically advanced alternatives, and
ensure the ethical rehoming of retired research animals, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 3, 2025
Ms. Malliotakis (for herself and Mr. Bean of Florida) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and
Commerce, Agriculture, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the use of animals in federally funded research, promote
the adoption of humane and scientifically advanced alternatives, and
ensure the ethical rehoming of retired research animals, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safeguard Pets, Animals, and
Research Ethics Act'' or the ``SPARE Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Tens of millions of animals are used annually in
federally funded research, including dogs, cats, rabbits,
primates, and other species.
(2) Many of these animals cost thousands of tax dollars
each, burdening taxpayers with billions of dollars annually in
inefficient and unnecessary research costs.
(3) Modern non-animal research alternatives, such as human-
cell-based models, artificial intelligence, and organ-on-chip
technology, provide more reliable and ethical research methods.
(4) The continued use of animals in federally funded
research contradicts existing Three Rs (Reduce, Refine,
Replace) policy goals aimed at reducing reliance on animal
models.
(5) Many animals used in federally funded research are
viable for adoption or sanctuary placement upon the cessation
of experiments.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN RESEARCH, TESTING, AND EXPERIMENTATION
THAT UTILIZES AN ANIMAL.
(a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, a
Federal department, Federal agency, Federal contractor, subcontractor,
or grantee may not authorize, obligate or expend funds for, or
otherwise engage in research, testing, and experimentation that
utilizes an animal.
(b) Sanctions and Penalties.--
(1) Civil penalty.--A Federal contractor, subcontractor, or
grantee that violates subsection (a) or subsection (f)(1) shall
be subject to a civil penalty in an amount of not more than
$250,000.
(2) Sanctions.--
(A) Federal departments and agencies.--If the
Secretary of Agriculture or the Director of the
National Institutes of Health determines that a Federal
department or agency has violated subsection (a) or
subsection (f)(1), such department or agency shall
implement a plan, which may include a reporting
requirement, prescribed by such Secretary or Director,
as the case may be, to correct the violation.
(B) Federal contractors, subcontractors, and
grantees.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
if the Secretary of Agriculture or the Director of the
National Institutes of Health determines, after
reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing, that a
Federal contractor, subcontractor, or grantee has
violated subsection (a) or subsection (f)(1), such
contractor, subcontractor, or grantee may be prohibited
from receiving, for a period of time specified by such
Secretary or Director, as the case may be, a Federal
grant for research, testing, and experimentation.
(c) Delayed Application.--
(1) Eighteen months.--With respect to research, testing,
and experimentation that utilizes an animal and relates to
cosmetic testing, toxicity testing, or basic psychological or
behavioral experimenting, subsection (a) shall not apply until
18 months after the date of the enactment of this section.
(2) Three years.--With respect to research, testing, and
experimentation that utilizes an animal and relates to
biomedical experimenting or drug testing, subsection (a) shall
not apply until three years after the date of the enactment of
this section.
(d) Exceptions.--
(1) Certain veterinary research or animals.--Subsection (a)
shall not apply to research, testing, and experimentation that
utilizes an animal and relates to any of the following:
(A) Clinical veterinary research.
(B) A physical exam, training program, or study
relating to a military animal or service animal.
(2) Congressional authorization.--A Federal department,
Federal agency, Federal contractor, subcontractor, or grantee
may authorize, obligate or expend funds for, or otherwise
engage in research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes
an animal if the following requirements are satisfied:
(A) The head of such department, agency,
contractor, subcontractor, or grantee submits to
Congress an application that states the following:
(i) Such research, testing, and
experimentation would relate to an infectious
disease or national security.
(ii) Such research, testing, and
experimentation would utilize such animal
sparingly.
(iii) Such head has determined that an
alternative does not exist for such research,
testing, and experimentation.
(B) After Congress receives the application
described in subparagraph (A), Congress enacts a joint
resolution that authorizes such research, testing, and
experimentation for a period of not more than one year.
(e) Federal Research Modernization Fund.--
(1) In general.--The Federal Research Modernization Fund
(in this subsection referred to as the ``Fund'') is established
in the National Science Foundation.
(2) Functions.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Director of the National
Science Foundation, through the Fund, shall carry out the
following:
(A) Establish a program to award grants on a
competitive basis to transition research, testing, and
experimentation that utilizes an animal to research,
testing, and experimentation that does not utilize an
animal, and not less than one grant under such program
shall be awarded to a non-profit rescue or
rehabilitation organization.
(B) For Federal contractors engaging in research,
testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal,
offer training to such contractors to transition such
research, testing, and experimentation to research,
testing, and experimentation that does not utilize an
animal.
(C) Establish a program to facilitate collaboration
between entities to expedite any transition of
research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an
animal to research, testing, and experimentation that
does not utilize an animal.
(D) Establish a program to support the validation
and standardization of research, testing, and
experimentation that does not utilize an animal.
(f) Animal Release Program.--
(1) In general.--Any federally funded research facility
that has utilized an animal for research, testing, and
experimentation prohibited under this section shall carry out
the following:
(A) Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this section, establish a program to
release each such animal to any of the following:
(i) An animal rescue organization.
(ii) An accredited sanctuary.
(iii) A licensed animal shelter.
(iv) An individual eligible to receive such
animal.
(B) In carrying out the program described in
subparagraph (A), consult with an accredited sanctuary
or a specialist in animal behavioral rehabilitation.
(C) Before releasing such animal pursuant to such
subparagraph, receive from a licensed veterinarian a
certification that states such animal is suitable for
release.
(D) Not later than 16 months after the date of the
enactment of this section and quarterly thereafter,
submit to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service of the Department of Agriculture and the Office
of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the National Institutes
of Health information relating to the number of animals
released pursuant to such subparagraph.
(2) Public database.--Not later than 20 months after the
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Director of the National Institutes of
Health shall jointly develop, maintain not less than quarterly,
and make publicly available a database on each animal released
pursuant such program.
(g) Audits.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Comptroller
General of the United States, in consultation with the personnel of the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the Department of
Agriculture and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the National
Institutes of Health, shall carry out the following:
(1) Audit each Federal department, Federal agency, Federal
contractor, subcontractor, or grantee for compliance with this
section.
(2) Submit a report to Congress on the compliance of each
such department, agency, contractor, subcontractor, or grantee
with this section.
(h) Congressional Hearings.--Not later than two years after the
date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, each
House of Congress shall hold a hearing on the annual report submitted
under subsection (g).
(i) Conflict.--If a conflict exists between the Animal Welfare Act
(7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.), or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and this section, this section shall apply.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Accredited sanctuary.--The term ``accredited
sanctuary'' means a facility or organization that satisfies the
following requirements:
(A) Provides lifetime care and shelter to animals.
(B) Maintains animals in a protective environment
without engaging in breeding, commercial trade, or for-
profit public exhibition.
(C) Possesses an accreditation by a nationally
recognized accrediting body, such as the Global
Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, or another entity
designated by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(D) Adheres to standards of animal care, including
adequate housing, nutrition, and veterinary attention,
verified through periodic reviews conducted as a
condition of such accreditation.
(2) Animal.--The term ``animal'' means a living or dead
dog, cat, non-human primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or
other warm-blooded animal that the Secretary of Agriculture
designates as being used, or intended to be used, for research,
testing, and experimentation, exhibition, or as a pet.
(3) Animal rescue organization.--The term ``animal rescue
organization'' means an organization that satisfies the
following requirements:
(A) Is described in section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under
section 501(a) of such Code.
(B) Is primarily dedicated to the rescue,
rehabilitation, and placement of animals into adoptive
homes or other suitable environments, including with
respect to the following:
(i) Taking custody of such animals from
research facilities, shelters, or other
sources.
(ii) Providing necessary care, including
veterinary treatment and socialization, to such
animals.
(iii) Facilitating the adoption or transfer
of such animals to permanent placements.
(iv) Maintaining records of the intake,
care, and disposition of such animals.
(C) Does not engage in the commercial sale or trade
of animals.
(4) Clinical veterinary research.--The term ``clinical
veterinary research'' means research on a dog or cat with a
naturally occurring disease or injury that is conducted--
(A) for the benefit of the dog or cat; and
(B) with the intention of studying the effect of a
procedure, device, or treatment protocol.
(5) Grantee.--The term ``grantee'' means an entity that
receives Federal research funds under a grant agreement with a
Federal department or agency.
(6) Licensed animal shelter.--The term ``licensed animal
shelter'' means a facility that satisfies the following
requirements:
(A) Is operated by or under contract with a State
or local government, a duly incorporated humane
society, or an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and
exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.
(B) Is licensed or registered under any applicable
law to impound, harbor, or care for stray, abandoned,
or surrendered animals, including animals released from
research facilities.
(C) Provides humane care and treatment to such
animals.
(D) Facilitates the adoption or transfer of such
animals to suitable placements.
(7) Military animal.--The term ``military animal'' has the
meaning given the term in section 2583 of title 10, United
States Code.
(8) Research, testing, and experimentation.--The term
``research, testing, and experimentation'' includes any of the
following:
(A) Basic research.
(B) Behavioral research.
(C) Infectious disease research.
(D) Drug and device development and testing.
(E) Cosmetic development and testing.
(F) Chemical development and testing.
(G) Biomedical training.
(9) Service animal.--The term ``service animal'' has the
meaning given the term in section 37.3 of title 49, Code of
Federal Regulations.
(10) Subcontractor.--The term ``subcontractor'' means an
entity that performs work under a subcontract funded by a
Federal research grant or another Federal contract.
<all>