Federal RuleAug 21
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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-hr-1291119th Congress
HEARTS Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
Introduced
Summary
Shift federal biomedical research toward human-relevant, nonanimal methods. The HEARTS Act of 2025 would create a new NIH center and require funding, training, review changes, and public reporting to accelerate alternatives to animal testing.
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- Researchers and peer review: Proposals for NIH-supported research would need at least one reviewer with nonanimal-methods expertise and access to a reference librarian. Proposals must fully evaluate all scientifically satisfactory nonanimal methods before animal use.
- Federally funded institutions: Any entity that uses animals with federal research funds would report animal counts by species and breeder/acquirer data within two years, then update those reports and submit public plans to reduce animal use every two years.
- NIH oversight and support: NIH would host a National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing to fund, train, and coordinate nonanimal methods, foster collaborations, and publish animal-use data. The center would be established within one year and led by a director appointed by the Secretary.
- Clinical research and predictiveness: The bill promotes human-focused tools such as organoids, microphysiological systems, and AI to improve how well lab results predict human outcomes. NIH notes about 30% of promising drugs fail in human trials from toxicity and about 60% from lack of efficacy.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New NIH center for nonanimal research
If enacted, NIH would set up a new center within one year to advance nonanimal research methods. A Director appointed by the Secretary would lead it. The center would fund and promote human‑based methods, and train scientists to use them. It would help researchers team up so labs with fewer resources can access these tools. It would also collect and publicly post timely data on numbers of animals used in federally funded research and testing.
Public reports on animal use in research
If enacted, universities, labs, and federal agencies that get federal research money and use animals would have to report animal numbers by species. They would also report how many animals were bred or acquired for research. The first report would be due within two years of enactment, with updates every two years. Each update would include a plan to reduce those numbers. The new NIH center would set the standard process and ensure public posting.
Stronger NIH checks for nonanimal methods
If enacted, NIH-supported researchers would need to search for nonanimal alternatives and explain why animals are needed. Proposals would have to be reviewed by at least one expert in nonanimal methods, with access to a reference librarian. NIH would set meaningful incentives to use scientifically sound nonanimal methods. These requirements would apply once the bill becomes law.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
CA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
NC • D
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/19/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 8/19/2025
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]
FL • R
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
AL • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov