Sponsors (3)
The bill increases oversight, transparency, and enforceability for NIH-funded animal research abroad to protect welfare and integrity, but imposes costs and risks to international collaborations, administrative budgets, and foreign sovereignty/privacy.
Scientists and researchers and taxpayers will see NIH suspend or revoke grants for noncompliant foreign labs, creating an enforceable mechanism that protects animal welfare and research integrity.
Scientists and researchers at foreign labs receiving NIH funds will be subject to regular (quarterly) inspections, increasing assurance that animal research meets U.S. animal-care standards.
Taxpayers and scientists-researchers will have greater transparency because compliance certificates for foreign NIH-funded animal research will be publicly available.
Scientists, researchers, and hospital health systems overseas could lose NIH funding or see collaborations disrupted if they cannot meet inspection or certification requirements.
Taxpayers and federal employees could face higher administrative costs as NIH implements quarterly inspections and coordinates with foreign authorities, potentially diverting funds from research.
Foreign institutions and state governments may face sovereignty and privacy concerns from frequent inspections and public posting of compliance information, which could complicate international partnerships.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Conditions NIH funding for foreign labs on quarterly inspections, certification of animal-care compliance, public posting of certificates, and suspension for noncompliance.
Conditions NIH funding for foreign laboratories that conduct animal research on regular inspections and certification of animal care. The Secretary (with NIH) must set up quarterly inspections, evaluate animal care programs and recordkeeping, issue public certificates of compliance, allow corrective actions, and suspend or revoke funding for noncompliance; the rules take effect 180 days after enactment.
Introduced January 20, 2026 by W. Greg Steube · Last progress January 20, 2026