Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

H.R.233 - Higher Education Loses Payments for Painful Experiments, Tests and Studies Act; HELP PETS Act (119th Congress)

Summary

H.R.233, also known as the HELP PETS Act, aims to prohibit federal funding to institutions of higher education that conduct painful biomedical research on dogs and cats. The bill defines 'painful research' as any research classified in pain category D or E by the Department of Agriculture. Exceptions are made for clinical veterinary research, studies relating to service animals, and military animals.

Expected Effects

If enacted, H.R.233 would restrict federal funding for specific types of animal research at universities. This could lead to a reduction in certain biomedical research activities involving dogs and cats at these institutions. The bill's impact depends on the extent to which these institutions rely on federal funding for such research.

Potential Benefits

  • Potentially reduces animal suffering in research.
  • Aligns federal funding with ethical concerns regarding animal welfare.
  • May encourage the development of alternative research methods.
  • Could improve public perception of federally funded research.
  • May lead to more focused research efforts on clinical veterinary research benefiting animals directly.

Potential Disadvantages

  • May hinder biomedical research progress, particularly in areas where animal models are crucial.
  • Could increase research costs if institutions need to find alternative funding sources.
  • May lead to research being conducted in countries with less stringent animal welfare standards.
  • Potentially limits the scope of research on diseases affecting both animals and humans.
  • Could negatively impact the training of researchers in certain fields.

Constitutional Alignment

The bill appears to align with the general welfare clause of the Constitution (Preamble), as it addresses concerns about animal welfare and ethical research practices. Congress has broad authority to allocate federal funds, as outlined in Article I, Section 8, which includes the power to determine the conditions under which such funds are distributed. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or protections.

Impact Assessment: Things You Care About

This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).