HR 456119th CongressIn Committee

Protecting Dogs Subjected to Experiments Act

Introduced: Jan 15, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, introduced by Representative Steube, is titled the Protecting Dogs Subjected to Experiments Act. It would prohibit the use of any federal funds made available to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for conducting biological, medical, or behavioral research that involves testing dogs. In other words, if enacted, NIH could not spend federal money on experiments that test or involve dogs. The bill does not specify any exceptions, phase-in period, penalties, or enforcement mechanisms, and it appears to apply only to NIH funding (not to non-federal funds or to other federal agencies). It also does not address how ongoing NIH-supported dog research would be handled.

Key Points

1Prohibition: No federal funds made available to the NIH may be used for biological, medical, or behavioral research involving testing of dogs.
2Short Title: The act may be cited as the “Protecting Dogs Subjected to Experiments Act.”
3Scope: Applies specifically to NIH funding; does not explicitly ban dog testing funded by non-federal sources or by other agencies.
4Exemptions/Details: The text provides no explicit exemptions, phase-in timeline, or enforcement provisions.
5Compliance Implications: NIH and any NIH-funded projects would need to redirect or terminate dog-related research funded by federal dollars; the bill does not specify penalties or enforcement mechanisms.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- NIH researchers, laboratories, and institutions receiving NIH funding that involve testing dogs; laboratory animal care and compliance staff.Secondary group/area affected- Dog welfare and animal-rights advocacy groups (likely to support restrictions on dog testing); broader biomedical research community that uses canine models.Additional impacts- Potential shift toward alternative research models (in vitro systems, computer modeling, non-dog animal models) and increased use of non-federal funding sources for any dog-related work outside NIH.- Possible effects on translational research areas where canine models have been used, prompting questions about timelines, transition plans, and availability of alternative methods.- Administrative and policy implications for NIH’s grant portfolio and research planning, including how to handle ongoing or multi-year projects that involve dogs.

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