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Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 13, 2025
Humane and Existing Alternatives in Research and Testing Sciences Act of 2025 or the HEARTS Act of 2025
This bill establishes a center within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and requires other activities to promote alternatives to using animals in research and testing.
The duties of the center include developing nonanimal research models (e.g., advanced cell cultures, advanced imaging systems) and training scientists about the methods.
Additionally, if an agency or other entity conducting federally funded research uses animals for research and testing, it must develop and update a plan for reducing such use and periodically report to the center the number and types of animals it uses.
The NIH must also provide incentives for the use of nonanimal research and generally ensure that nonanimal alternatives are considered when reviewing research proposals. Further, applications for NIH research grants must include an assurance that nonanimal methods for carrying out the research are unavailable.
People & committees
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41] · R–CA
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Oct 6, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-02-13 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed HEARTS Act would require evaluation of scientifically satisfactory nonanimal methods before animal research supported or conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is approved or performed. It would create an NIH center to fund and promote alternatives and plan to reduce animal use. Entities receiving federal research or testing funds would have to publish animal counts and reduction plans if they use animals in research and testing. Federal departments and agencies using animals in research or testing would also be covered. These are proposed requirements, not established enacted law in the supplied evidence.
This Act may be cited as the Humane and Existing Alternatives in Research and Testing Sciences Act of 2025 or the HEARTS Act of 2025.
with respect to all research conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health
Ensure that, before any research involving the use of animals is approved or performed, all scientifically satisfactory nonanimal methods for obtaining the results sought have been fully evaluated.
The general purpose of the National Center shall be— (1) developing, promoting, and funding alternatives to animal research and testing; and (2) developing a plan for reducing the number of animals used in federally funded research and testing.
The term covered reporting entity means— (A) any entity that— (i) receives Federal funds for research or testing; and (ii) uses animals in research and testing; and (B) any Federal department or agency that uses animals in research or testing.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, report to the National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing and make publicly available— (A) the number of animals used by the covered reporting entity in federally funded research and testing at facilities of the covered reporting entity, disaggregated by species; and (B) the total number of such animals that were bred or acquired by the covered reporting entity for research or testing purposes, disaggregated by species.
develop and submit to the National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing and make publicly available a plan for reducing the numbers
2025-02-13: Introduced in House
The bill's findings describe animal-use totals as uncertain and call for incentives to develop and use scientifically suitable nonanimal methods. These statements express the bill's rationale; they do not establish that its proposed changes would produce better research outcomes.
However, the precise number of animals used in research in the United States is unknown.
A system of active incentives is needed to encourage researchers to develop and utilize humane, cost-effective, and scientifically suitable nonanimal methods based on human biology.
Section 3 would amend the Public Health Service Act to require establishing and maintaining animal-care guidelines for research conducted or supported by NIH. The existing subjects covered by those guidelines are not reproduced in the bill.
Section 495 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289d) is amended
with respect to all research conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health, do the following: (1) Establish and maintain animal care guidelines for the following:
For NIH research, the bill would require meaningful incentives for proposals to use existing nonanimal methods that are humane and scientifically satisfactory. This provision does not specify the incentives' form or amount.
Establish a system of meaningful incentives to encourage the use of existing humane and scientifically satisfactory nonanimal methods in research proposals.
Before NIH-supported or NIH-conducted animal research could be approved or performed, all scientifically satisfactory nonanimal methods for obtaining the desired results would have to be fully evaluated.
with respect to all research conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health
Ensure that, before any research involving the use of animals is approved or performed, all scientifically satisfactory nonanimal methods for obtaining the results sought have been fully evaluated.
Research proposals covered by Section 3 would need at least one reviewer with expertise in nonanimal methods. Reviewers would also need access to a reference librarian with expertise in assessing whether searches for those methods were adequate.
research proposals are reviewed by at least one person who has expertise in nonanimal research methods
reviewers of the research proposals have access to a reference librarian with expertise in evaluating the adequacy of the searches for nonanimal methods described in the research proposals.
The bill would require guidelines for thorough searches for nonanimal alternatives in biomedical and behavioral research proposals.
Establish and maintain research proposal guidelines for conducting thorough searches for nonanimal alternatives to the use of animals for biomedical and behavioral research.
The bill would add to Section 495(c)(1) a statement assuring that no scientifically satisfactory nonanimal method is available to obtain the desired result. It would also delete the words “paragraphs (1) and (2) of” from Section 495(c)(1)(A). The surrounding existing subsection is not supplied, limiting conclusions about the full application and effect of these changes.
in subsection (c)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) of; and (ii) by striking and at the end;
a statement of assurance that a scientifically satisfactory nonanimal method of obtaining the result sought is not available
Within one year after enactment, the Secretary would have to establish the National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing within NIH. The Secretary would appoint its director; the text does not expressly set a deadline for that appointment. Section 4 would also add the center to the statutory list of institutes and centers and replace “27” with “28” in Section 401(d)(1).
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Humane and Existing Alternatives in Research and Testing Sciences Act of 2025, the Secretary shall establish a National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing (in this subpart referred to as the National Center) within the National Institutes of Health. The Center shall be headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary.
Section 401(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281(b)) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (25) as paragraph (26); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (24) the following new paragraph: (25) The National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing.
Section 401(d)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281(d)(1)) is amended by striking 27 and inserting 28.
The new center would develop, promote, and fund alternatives to animal research and testing. It would also develop a plan to reduce the number of animals used in federally funded research and testing.
The general purpose of the National Center shall be— (1) developing, promoting, and funding alternatives to animal research and testing; and (2) developing a plan for reducing the number of animals used in federally funded research and testing.
The center's director would provide assistance, including funding, to federally funded researchers to encourage the development and qualification of nonanimal methods. Listed examples include advanced cell cultures, imaging systems, and artificial intelligence.
provide assistance (including funding) to federally funded researchers to incentivize the development and qualification of nonanimal methods, such as advanced cell cultures or technology such as 3D organoids, microphysiological systems, induced pluripotent adult stem cell models, in silico modeling, advanced imaging systems, artificial intelligence, and other innovative methods
The director would train and inform scientists about the nonanimal methods developed with this assistance.
train and inform scientists about the methods developed pursuant to paragraph (1)
The director would arrange collaborations among research institutions so scientists lacking resources could develop and use these nonanimal methods.
establish collaborations among research institutions so that scientists who lack resources (such as bioengineering and advanced bio-imaging equipment) can develop and use methods developed pursuant to paragraph (1)
The center would collect information on animal numbers in federally funded research and testing and make that information public in a timely manner.
collect information regarding the numbers of animals used in federally funded research and testing, and make such information available to the public in a timely manner.
Section 5's reporting requirements would cover entities that both receive federal research or testing funds and use animals in research and testing. They would also cover any federal department or agency using animals in research or testing.
The term covered reporting entity means— (A) any entity that— (i) receives Federal funds for research or testing; and (ii) uses animals in research and testing; and (B) any Federal department or agency that uses animals in research or testing.
For Section 5, the definition of animal would cover any live, nonhuman vertebrate animal or cephalopod used or intended for research, research training, experimentation, biological testing, or related purposes.
The term animal means any live, nonhuman vertebrate animal or cephalopod used or intended for use in research, research training, experimentation, or biological testing, or for related purposes.
Within two years after enactment, covered entities would have to report to the center and publicly disclose species-by-species counts of animals used in federally funded research and testing at their facilities. They would also report the total number of such animals bred or acquired for research or testing, separated by species.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, report to the National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing and make publicly available— (A) the number of animals used by the covered reporting entity in federally funded research and testing at facilities of the covered reporting entity, disaggregated by species; and (B) the total number of such animals that were bred or acquired by the covered reporting entity for research or testing purposes, disaggregated by species.
Every two years afterward, covered entities would update and publish their reports. They would also develop, submit to the center, and publish plans to reduce both reported animal-use counts and breeding or acquisition counts.
Every 2 years thereafter— (A) update the latest report of the covered reporting entity under this section and make publicly available such updated report to measure the progress of the covered reporting entity in reducing the number of animals used in federally funded research and testing; and (B) develop and submit to the National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing and make publicly available a plan for reducing the numbers described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1).
The center's director would establish a standard process for submitting, updating, and publicly releasing the reports and reduction plans.
The Director of the National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing shall establish a standardized process for submitting and updating reports and plans under subsection (a), including for making such reports and plans publicly available.
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated October 6, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on February 13, 2025. It does not establish the bill's subsequent disposition.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-06T19:56:05Z. 2025-02-13: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. 2025-02-13: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-02-13. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy rider attached to appropriations was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for a particular recipient or place outside competitive or formula allocation was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; absent disclosures and accompanying materials limit any determination of formal earmark status.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow carve-out, special exemption, or preferential treatment beyond ordinary program eligibility was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 6, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI