Sponsors (2)
Introduced March 3, 2025 by Nicole Malliotakis · Last progress March 3, 2025
This bill shifts federally funded research away from animal testing toward modern non-animal methods—potentially improving human-relevant science, animal welfare, and long-term efficiency—while risking short-term costs, added administrative burdens, and delays or gaps in medical and time-sensitive research due to strict phase-outs and exception procedures.
Taxpayers: Federal research spending could become more efficient and save money over time by shifting toward validated non-animal methods and reducing inefficient animal-based tests.
Biomedical researchers and patients: Adoption and validation of human-cell models, AI, and organ-on-chip technologies could produce more reliable, human-relevant data and improve translational research outcomes.
Research animals and rescue organizations: Federally funded facilities would be required to release or rehome animals to accredited sanctuaries or shelters, reducing animal welfare harms and increasing placements for rescue groups.
Patients with serious or chronic conditions and biomedical researchers: A ban on most federally funded animal research after three years, combined with limited exemptions, could halt or delay projects, create gaps in testing, and slow development of treatments.
Federal contractors, small businesses, and nonprofits: New compliance rules carry financial risk — including fines up to $250,000 and possible debarment — increasing operational and funding vulnerability for research entities.
Research institutions and scientists: Transitioning to non-animal methods may require substantial upfront investment in new technologies and training, raising short-term costs and capacity strains.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Most federally funded animal-based research is prohibited with phased deadlines, establishes a fund and programs to replace animal methods, and creates a congressional pre-approval process for narrow exemptions.
Prohibits most federally funded research, testing, and experimentation that uses live animals, with staged delays and specific exceptions, and creates a federal program and fund to support replacing animal-based methods. It imposes civil penalties and administrative sanctions for violations, requires agencies and contractors to follow a pre-approval process for narrowly defined national security or infectious-disease uses, and establishes programs to transition research toward non-animal alternatives and to rehome animals where possible.