Higher Education Animal Research Ban

Summary#

The HELP PETS Act would stop federal funds from being made available to any institution of higher education that conducts or pays for painful research on dogs or cats. The rule would begin 180 days after the law is enacted. The bill defines "painful research" as any research classified in pain category D or E by the Department of Agriculture. Exceptions are clinical veterinary research (work on a dog or cat with a naturally occurring disease or injury done for the animal's benefit), and physical exams, training programs, or studies relating to service animals or military animals. The bill uses the definition of "institution of higher education" from the Higher Education Act of 1965.

What it means for you#

• If you attend, work at, or manage a college or university that gets federal money, that school could lose those funds if it conducts or funds painful research on dogs or cats.
• If your dog or cat takes part in clinical veterinary research meant to help that animal, the bill would not block federal support for that work.
• Research or training involving service animals or military animals would also be allowed under the bill.

Expenses#

No publicly available information. The bill text does not include any budget estimates, cost figures, or details about financial impacts of enforcing the prohibition.

Proponents' View#

The bill text would prevent federal funding from supporting painful experiments on dogs and cats by withholding federal funds from colleges and universities that carry out such research. Supporters can point to the bill's definitions and exceptions as the framework for that change.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.