PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 3, 2025
Safeguard Pets, Animals, and Research Ethics Act or the SPARE Act
This bill prohibits federal departments, agencies, contractors, subcontractors, and grantees from engaging in research and testing using animals.
This prohibition takes effect 3 years after the bill’s enactment for biomedical experimenting and drug testing, and 18 months after enactment for other research including cosmetics and toxicity testing. The prohibition does not apply to clinical veterinary research or certain activities related to military or service animals. Upon an application from a federal entity, contractor, or grantee, Congress may authorize animal research for a limited period if the research relates to an infectious disease or national security, would use animals sparingly, and for which no alternative exists.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The bill establishes a civil penalty for certain violations of the prohibition, and permits the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to impose other specified sanctions on violators.
The bill also requires federally funded research facilities that have used animals in research to release any such animal to a specified animal organization or eligible individual within one year of the bill’s enactment, after having consulted with an accredited sanctuary or animal behavioral specialist. The USDA and NIH must make available a public database with information on animals released under these provisions.
Finally, the bill requires the National Science Foundation to establish a competitive grant program to support the transition of animal research to non-animal research, and to establish a program to support the validation and standardization of non-animal research.
People & committees
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11] · R–NY
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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: Jun 3, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-03-03 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 SPARE Act would generally bar federal agencies, contractors, subcontractors, and research grant recipients from conducting or funding research using animals covered by the bill. Some research would have transition periods, and limited exceptions would allow certain animal work to continue. The bill would establish competitive grants and other support for moving to methods that do not use animals. It would also require affected federally funded research facilities to establish animal release programs, with veterinary approval before release.
This Act may be cited as the Safeguard Pets, Animals, and Research Ethics Act or the SPARE Act.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, a Federal department, Federal agency, Federal contractor, subcontractor, or grantee may not authorize, obligate or expend funds for, or otherwise engage in research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal.
Establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to transition research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal to research, testing, and experimentation that does not utilize an animal
Any federally funded research facility that has utilized an animal for research, testing, and experimentation prohibited under this section shall carry out the following: (A) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, establish a program to release each such animal
Before releasing such animal pursuant to such subparagraph, receive from a licensed veterinarian a certification that states such animal is suitable for release.
Section 2 states Congress's proposed reasons for the bill: animal research costs, the claimed advantages of alternatives, goals to reduce animal use, and opportunities to place research animals in homes or sanctuaries. These are statements in the bill's findings, not independently established effects of the proposal.
Congress finds the following: (1) Tens of millions of animals are used annually in federally funded research, including dogs, cats, rabbits, primates, and other species. (2) Many of these animals cost thousands of tax dollars each, burdening taxpayers with billions of dollars annually in inefficient and unnecessary research costs. (3) Modern non-animal research alternatives, such as human-cell-based models, artificial intelligence, and organ-on-chip technology, provide more reliable and ethical research methods. (4) The continued use of animals in federally funded research contradicts existing Three Rs (Reduce, Refine, Replace) policy goals aimed at reducing reliance on animal models. (5) Many animals used in federally funded research are viable for adoption or sanctuary placement upon the cessation of experiments.
Subject to its exceptions and delays, the bill would prohibit covered federal entities and recipients from authorizing animal research, committing or spending money on it, or conducting it. A covered grant recipient is an entity receiving federal research funds through a grant agreement; a covered subcontractor performs work funded by a federal research grant or another federal contract.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, a Federal department, Federal agency, Federal contractor, subcontractor, or grantee may not authorize, obligate or expend funds for, or otherwise engage in research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal.
The term grantee means an entity that receives Federal research funds under a grant agreement with a Federal department or agency.
The term subcontractor means an entity that performs work under a subcontract funded by a Federal research grant or another Federal contract.
The bill's animal definition covers living or dead dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and other warm-blooded animals designated by the Agriculture Secretary under the stated use criteria. It does not simply define animals as every animal species.
The term animal means a living or dead dog, cat, non-human primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or other warm-blooded animal that the Secretary of Agriculture designates as being used, or intended to be used, for research, testing, and experimentation, exhibition, or as a pet.
Covered research expressly includes basic, behavioral, and infectious disease research; drug, device, cosmetic, and chemical development and testing; and biomedical training.
The term research, testing, and experimentation includes any of the following: (A) Basic research. (B) Behavioral research. (C) Infectious disease research. (D) Drug and device development and testing. (E) Cosmetic development and testing. (F) Chemical development and testing. (G) Biomedical training.
The prohibition would begin 18 months after enactment for cosmetic testing, toxicity testing, and basic psychological or behavioral experiments. Biomedical experiments and drug testing would have a three-year delay.
(1) Eighteen months With respect to research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal and relates to cosmetic testing, toxicity testing, or basic psychological or behavioral experimenting, subsection (a) shall not apply until 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section. (2) Three years With respect to research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal and relates to biomedical experimenting or drug testing, subsection (a) shall not apply until three years after the date of the enactment of this section.
Clinical veterinary research would be exempt from the prohibition. This exemption is limited to research on a dog or cat with a naturally occurring disease or injury, conducted for that animal's benefit to study a procedure, device, or treatment protocol.
Subsection (a) shall not apply to research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal and relates to any of the following: (A) 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.
The prohibition would also exempt research relating to a physical examination, training program, or study involving a military or service animal. The bill uses definitions of those animals from existing law and regulations that are not reproduced in the bundle.
Subsection (a) shall not apply to research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal and relates to any of the following: (A) Clinical veterinary research. (B) A physical exam, training program, or study relating to a military animal or service animal.
The term military animal has the meaning given the term in section 2583 of title 10, United States Code.
The term service animal has the meaning given the term in section 37.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
A covered entity could seek permission for infectious disease or national security research. Its head would have to tell Congress that animals would be used sparingly and that no alternative exists. Permission would require Congress to enact a joint resolution—a legislative measure authorizing the work—for no more than one year.
A Federal department, Federal agency, Federal contractor, subcontractor, or grantee may authorize, obligate or expend funds for, or otherwise engage in research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal if the following requirements are satisfied: (A) The head of such department, agency, contractor, subcontractor, or grantee submits to Congress an application that states the following: (i) Such research, testing, and experimentation would relate to an infectious disease or national security. (ii) Such research, testing, and experimentation would utilize such animal sparingly. (iii) Such head has determined that an alternative does not exist for such research, testing, and experimentation. (B) After Congress receives the application described in subparagraph (A), Congress enacts a joint resolution that authorizes such research, testing, and experimentation for a period of not more than one year.
Federal contractors, subcontractors, and grant recipients violating the research prohibition or the animal release requirements in subsection (f)(1) would face a civil financial penalty of up to $250,000.
A Federal contractor, subcontractor, or grantee that violates subsection (a) or subsection (f)(1) shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount of not more than $250,000.
If the Agriculture Secretary or the National Institutes of Health Director found that a federal department or agency violated the prohibition or animal release requirements, that department or agency would have to implement a prescribed correction plan. The plan could require reporting.
If the Secretary of Agriculture or the Director of the National Institutes of Health determines that a Federal department or agency has violated subsection (a) or subsection (f)(1), such department or agency shall implement a plan, which may include a reporting requirement, prescribed by such Secretary or Director, as the case may be, to correct the violation.
After reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the Agriculture Secretary or National Institutes of Health Director could bar a violating contractor, subcontractor, or grant recipient from receiving federal research grants. The official would set the duration; the provision states no maximum period.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Secretary of Agriculture or the Director of the National Institutes of Health determines, after reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing, that a Federal contractor, subcontractor, or grantee has violated subsection (a) or subsection (f)(1), such contractor, subcontractor, or grantee may be prohibited from receiving, for a period of time specified by such Secretary or Director, as the case may be, a Federal grant for research, testing, and experimentation.
The bill would establish a Federal Research Modernization Fund within the National Science Foundation. Within one year after enactment, the Foundation's Director would have to establish competitive grants for transitioning away from animal research. At least one grant would have to go to a nonprofit rescue or rehabilitation organization.
The Federal Research Modernization Fund (in this subsection referred to as the Fund) is established in the National Science Foundation.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director of the National Science Foundation, through the Fund, shall carry out the following: (A) Establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to transition research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal to research, testing, and experimentation that does not utilize an animal, and not less than one grant under such program shall be awarded to a non-profit rescue or rehabilitation organization.
Within the same one-year deadline, the National Science Foundation would have to offer transition training to federal contractors using animals, establish a collaboration program to speed transitions, and support checking the validity and establishing common standards for methods that do not use animals.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director of the National Science Foundation, through the Fund, shall carry out the following:
(B) For Federal contractors engaging in research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal, offer training to such contractors to transition such research, testing, and experimentation to research, testing, and experimentation that does not utilize an animal. (C) Establish a program to facilitate collaboration between entities to expedite any transition of research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal to research, testing, and experimentation that does not utilize an animal. (D) Establish a program to support the validation and standardization of research, testing, and experimentation that does not utilize an animal.
Within one year after enactment, federally funded research facilities that had used animals in research prohibited by the bill would have to establish programs to release each such animal. Permitted recipients would be qualifying rescue organizations, accredited sanctuaries, licensed shelters, or eligible individual people. This is a deadline to establish the program, not an express deadline to complete every release.
Any federally funded research facility that has utilized an animal for research, testing, and experimentation prohibited under this section shall carry out the following: (A) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, establish a program to release each such animal to any of the following: (i) An animal rescue organization. (ii) An accredited sanctuary. (iii) A licensed animal shelter. (iv) An individual eligible to receive such animal.
Facilities would have to consult an accredited sanctuary or an animal behavioral rehabilitation specialist when carrying out their release programs. Before releasing an animal, they would need a licensed veterinarian's certification that the animal is suitable for release.
(B) In carrying out the program described in subparagraph (A), consult with an accredited sanctuary or a specialist in animal behavioral rehabilitation. (C) Before releasing such animal pursuant to such subparagraph, receive from a licensed veterinarian a certification that states such animal is suitable for release.
Facilities would have to report animal release numbers to the Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the National Institutes of Health's Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare. The first report would be due within 16 months after enactment, with reports every quarter afterward.
Not later than 16 months after the date of the enactment of this section and quarterly thereafter, submit to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the National Institutes of Health information relating to the number of animals released pursuant to such subparagraph.
Within 20 months after enactment, the Agriculture Secretary and National Institutes of Health Director would have to create a public database covering each released animal and maintain it at least quarterly.
Not later than 20 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall jointly develop, maintain not less than quarterly, and make publicly available a database on each animal released pursuant such program.
A qualifying sanctuary would have to provide lifetime care, avoid breeding, commercial trade, and for-profit public exhibition, and hold qualifying accreditation. Its animal care standards would be checked through periodic accreditation reviews.
The term accredited sanctuary means a facility or organization that satisfies the following requirements: (A) Provides lifetime care and shelter to animals. (B) Maintains animals in a protective environment without engaging in breeding, commercial trade, or for-profit public exhibition. (C) Possesses an accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting body, such as the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, or another entity designated by the Secretary of Agriculture. (D) Adheres to standards of animal care, including adequate housing, nutrition, and veterinary attention, verified through periodic reviews conducted as a condition of such accreditation.
A qualifying animal rescue organization would have to be a tax-exempt charitable organization primarily devoted to rescuing, rehabilitating, and placing animals. Its work would include taking custody, providing care, arranging permanent placements, and keeping records. It could not commercially sell or trade animals.
The term animal rescue organization means an organization that satisfies the following requirements: (A) Is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code. (B) Is primarily dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of animals into adoptive homes or other suitable environments, including with respect to the following: (i) Taking custody of such animals from research facilities, shelters, or other sources. (ii) Providing necessary care, including veterinary treatment and socialization, to such animals. (iii) Facilitating the adoption or transfer of such animals to permanent placements. (iv) Maintaining records of the intake, care, and disposition of such animals. (C) Does not engage in the commercial sale or trade of animals.
A qualifying shelter would have to be operated by, or under contract with, a state or local government, an incorporated humane society, or a qualifying tax-exempt organization. It would also need applicable licensing or registration, humane animal care, and arrangements to facilitate adoption or transfer to suitable placements.
The term licensed animal shelter means a facility that satisfies the following requirements: (A) Is operated by or under contract with a State or local government, a duly incorporated humane society, or an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code. (B) Is licensed or registered under any applicable law to impound, harbor, or care for stray, abandoned, or surrendered animals, including animals released from research facilities. (C) Provides humane care and treatment to such animals. (D) Facilitates the adoption or transfer of such animals to suitable placements.
Within one year after enactment and annually afterward, the Comptroller General would have to audit every covered federal department, agency, contractor, subcontractor, and grant recipient for compliance and report to Congress. The audits would involve consultation with the two specified federal animal oversight offices.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States, in consultation with the personnel of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the National Institutes of Health, shall carry out the following: (1) Audit each Federal department, Federal agency, Federal contractor, subcontractor, or grantee for compliance with this section. (2) Submit a report to Congress on the compliance of each such department, agency, contractor, subcontractor, or grantee with this section.
Each chamber of Congress would have to hold a hearing on the compliance report within two years after enactment and annually afterward.
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, each House of Congress shall hold a hearing on the annual report submitted under subsection (g).
Section 3 would take priority wherever it conflicts with the Animal Welfare Act or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The text does not identify particular existing requirements that would conflict.
If a conflict exists between the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.), or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and this section, this section shall apply.
The supplied actions snapshot, updated June 3, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to four House committees on March 3, 2025. It also records referrals to the Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee and the Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee on March 28, 2025. This snapshot does not establish subsequent passage or enactment.
Source snapshot updated 2026-06-03T08:08:29Z.
2025-03-03: Introduced in House
2025-03-03: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-03-03. 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 in 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 in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; absent disclosure and committee materials, it does not establish formal earmark status elsewhere.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The supplied introduced text contains a narrow grant award guarantee and exceptions to the general research prohibition. These classifications identify preferential treatment for scrutiny, not a judgment about its justification.
Nonprofit rescue or rehabilitation organizations would receive a guaranteed minimum of one award within the competitive research-transition grant program. This is a preference for a particular type of organization, although no individual recipient or dollar amount is named.
Establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to transition research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal to research, testing, and experimentation that does not utilize an animal, and not less than one grant under such program shall be awarded to a non-profit rescue or rehabilitation organization.
Researchers treating dogs or cats with naturally occurring diseases or injuries would have a narrow exemption when their research benefits the animal and studies a procedure, device, or treatment protocol. This permits specified veterinary research under the bill's general prohibition.
Subsection (a) shall not apply to research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal and relates to any of the following: (A) 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.
Entities conducting covered work relating to military or service animals would have an exemption for physical examinations, training programs, and studies. The exception permits this specified work despite the general animal research prohibition.
Subsection (a) shall not apply to research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal and relates to any of the following: (A) Clinical veterinary research. (B) A physical exam, training program, or study relating to a military animal or service animal.
Entities pursuing infectious disease or national security research would have a special route to temporary permission. Their heads would need to state that animal use would be sparing and that no alternative exists, and Congress would need to enact authorization lasting no more than one year.
A Federal department, Federal agency, Federal contractor, subcontractor, or grantee may authorize, obligate or expend funds for, or otherwise engage in research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal if the following requirements are satisfied: (A) The head of such department, agency, contractor, subcontractor, or grantee submits to Congress an application that states the following: (i) Such research, testing, and experimentation would relate to an infectious disease or national security. (ii) Such research, testing, and experimentation would utilize such animal sparingly. (iii) Such head has determined that an alternative does not exist for such research, testing, and experimentation. (B) After Congress receives the application described in subparagraph (A), Congress enacts a joint resolution that authorizes such research, testing, and experimentation for a period of not more than one year.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Jun 3, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI