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To prohibit the availability of Federal funds to institutions of higher education that conduct painful biomedical research on dogs and cats.
Summary
This bill prohibits the availability of federal funds to colleges and universities that conduct painful biomedical research on dogs and cats, effective 180 days after enactment. The bill defines "painful research" as experimentation classified in pain categories D or E by the Department of Agriculture. The prohibition includes research, training, testing, and biological experiments conducted on or funded by the institution. The bill provides exceptions for clinical veterinary research conducted for the benefit of the animal and research related to service animals or military animals. The restriction would apply to federal funding made available to these institutions.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
Actions (2)
- Jan 9, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. · house
- Jan 9, 2025 Introduced in House
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 9, 2025
Ms. Malliotakis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
A BILL
To prohibit the availability of Federal funds to institutions of higher education that conduct painful biomedical research on dogs and cats.
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 “Higher Education Loses Payments for Painful Experiments, Tests and Studies Act” or the “HELP PETS Act”.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT CONDUCT PAINFUL RESEARCH USING DOGS AND CATS.
(a) In General.—Beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, no Federal funds may be made available to any institution of higher education that conducts or funds, in whole or in part, painful research on dogs or cats.
(b) Exceptions.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to—
(1) clinical veterinary research; or
(2) any physical exam, training program, or study relating to service animals or military animals.
(c) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) 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.
(2) Institution of higher education.—The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
(3) Military animal.—The term “military animal” has the meaning given the term in section 2583(i)(1) of title 10, United States Code.
(4) Painful research.—The term “painful research” includes any research, biomedical training, experimentation, or biological testing classified in pain category D or E by the Department of Agriculture.
(5) Service animal.—The term “service animal” has the meaning given the term in section 37.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. <all>
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