Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Safeguard Pets, Animals, and Research Ethics Act” or the “SPARE Act”.
Safeguard Pets, Animals, and Research Ethics Act
A BILL
To prohibit the use of animals in federally funded research, promote the adoption of humane and scientifically advanced alternatives, and ensure the ethical rehoming of retired research animals, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress finds the following:
Tens of millions of animals are used annually in federally funded research, including dogs, cats, rabbits, primates, and other species.
Many of these animals cost thousands of tax dollars each, burdening taxpayers with billions of dollars annually in inefficient and unnecessary research costs.
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.
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.
Many animals used in federally funded research are viable for adoption or sanctuary placement upon the cessation of experiments.
Sec. 3 Prohibition on certain research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal
In general— 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.
Sanctions and penalties—
Civil penalty— 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.
Sanctions—
Federal departments and agencies— 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.
Federal contractors, subcontractors, and grantees— 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.
Delayed application—
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.
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.
Exceptions—
Certain veterinary research or animals— Subsection (a) shall not apply to research, testing, and experimentation that utilizes an animal and relates to any of the following:
Clinical veterinary research.
A physical exam, training program, or study relating to a military animal or service animal.
Congressional authorization— 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:
The head of such department, agency, contractor, subcontractor, or grantee submits to Congress an application that states the following:
Such research, testing, and experimentation would relate to an infectious disease or national security.
Such research, testing, and experimentation would utilize such animal sparingly.
Such head has determined that an alternative does not exist for such research, testing, and experimentation.
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 Research Modernization Fund—
In general— The Federal Research Modernization Fund (in this subsection referred to as the “Fund”) is established in the National Science Foundation.
Functions— 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:
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.
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.
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.
Establish a program to support the validation and standardization of research, testing, and experimentation that does not utilize an animal.
Animal release program—
In general— Any federally funded research facility that has utilized an animal for research, testing, and experimentation prohibited under this section shall carry out the following:
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:
An animal rescue organization.
An accredited sanctuary.
A licensed animal shelter.
An individual eligible to receive such animal.
In carrying out the program described in subparagraph (A), consult with an accredited sanctuary or a specialist in animal behavioral rehabilitation.
Before releasing such animal pursuant to such subparagraph, receive from a licensed veterinarian a certification that states such animal is suitable for release.
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.
Public database— 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.
Audits— 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:
Audit each Federal department, Federal agency, Federal contractor, subcontractor, or grantee for compliance with this section.
Submit a report to Congress on the compliance of each such department, agency, contractor, subcontractor, or grantee with this section.
Congressional hearings— 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).
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.
Definitions— In this section:
Accredited sanctuary— The term accredited sanctuary means a facility or organization that satisfies the following requirements:
Provides lifetime care and shelter to animals.
Maintains animals in a protective environment without engaging in breeding, commercial trade, or for-profit public exhibition.
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.
Adheres to standards of animal care, including adequate housing, nutrition, and veterinary attention, verified through periodic reviews conducted as a condition of such accreditation.
Animal— 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.
Animal rescue organization— The term animal rescue organization means an organization that satisfies the following requirements:
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.
Is primarily dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of animals into adoptive homes or other suitable environments, including with respect to the following:
Taking custody of such animals from research facilities, shelters, or other sources.
Providing necessary care, including veterinary treatment and socialization, to such animals.
Facilitating the adoption or transfer of such animals to permanent placements.
Maintaining records of the intake, care, and disposition of such animals.
Does not engage in the commercial sale or trade of animals.
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—
for the benefit of the dog or cat; and
with the intention of studying the effect of a procedure, device, or treatment protocol.
Grantee— The term grantee means an entity that receives Federal research funds under a grant agreement with a Federal department or agency.
Licensed animal shelter— The term licensed animal shelter means a facility that satisfies the following requirements:
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.
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.
Provides humane care and treatment to such animals.
Facilitates the adoption or transfer of such animals to suitable placements.
Military animal— The term military animal has the meaning given the term in section 2583 of title 10, United States Code.
Research, testing, and experimentation— The term research, testing, and experimentation includes any of the following:
Basic research.
Behavioral research.
Infectious disease research.
Drug and device development and testing.
Cosmetic development and testing.
Chemical development and testing.
Biomedical training.
Service animal— The term service animal has the meaning given the term in section 37.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
Subcontractor— The term subcontractor means an entity that performs work under a subcontract funded by a Federal research grant or another Federal contract.