H.R. 10522
Companion Animal Protection Against Cruel Testing Act
Sponsor: Nicholas A. Langworthy
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Companion Animal Protection Against Cruel Testing Act
This bill prohibits the use of funds made available to covered federal agencies for any biomedical research activity involving a live dog or cat. Covered agencies are agencies or offices within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that award, administer, or expend federal funds for biomedical research.
This prohibition also applies to activities that materially facilitate biomedical research involving a live dog or cat (e.g., salaries, facility maintenance, and administrative support primarily related to such research). It does not apply to transportation and rehousing of animals previously used in biomedical research or observational activities that do not involve alteration of an animal’s normal environment or medical care.
The prohibition applies to federal funds obligated or expended beginning 180 days after the bill is enacted. HHS may waive the prohibition in limited circumstances if necessary to respond to a specified emergency.
Recipients of funding from covered agencies must make reasonable efforts to transfer dogs and cats no longer needed for research to rescue organizations or other appropriate entities. Further, recipients may only euthanize an animal if a veterinarian has determined euthanasia is necessary for animal welfare or public safety.
If HHS determines that a recipient has violated a provision of the bill, it may withhold further funding to the recipient, recover funds expended in violation, and impose other administrative remedies.
Finally, the Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on the bill's implementation within three years after the bill takes effect.
Text of the bill
(a) Pre-Funding certification. As a condition of receiving funding from a covered Federal agency, a recipient shall certify, in such form and manner as the Secretary may prescribe, that—
(1) neither the applicant nor any proposed subrecipient, contractor, consortium participant, or other collaborating entity will obligate or expend the funding for any covered activity;
(2) the recipient has implemented internal controls reasonably designed to ensure compliance with this Act;
(3) all material representations made in the certification are true, complete, and accurate to the best knowledge of the recipient; and
(4) the recipient acknowledges that the certification constitutes a material condition of the award.
(b) Annual certification. Each recipient shall submit an annual certification affirming continued compliance with this Act.
(c) Notification of noncompliance
(1) Notification. Not later than 30 days after a recipient discovers information indicating a violation of this Act or a materially false certification by the recipient, the recipient shall notify the Secretary in writing of such information.
(2) Withholding of funding. If the Secretary determines, in writing, that a recipient has violated paragraph (1), the Secretary may withhold funding from a covered Federal agency from such recipient for a period not to exceed 3 years.
(d) False statements. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the applicability of any Federal law concerning false statements, false claims, or fraud relating to certifications submitted under this section.