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119-s-1435119th Congress

Accountability in Foreign Animal Research Act

Sponsored By: Senator Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

Introduced

Summary

This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from using federal funds to fund or conduct biomedical research involving vertebrate animals in specified foreign countries. It also creates a formal reporting step when HHS names any other country a country of concern.

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  • HHS-funded researchers and U.S. institutions: They would be barred from conducting or receiving HHS funding for vertebrate-animal biomedical work in facilities or through entities located in, or owned or controlled by, the 4 listed countries.
  • Foreign research entities in listed countries: Entities based in the People’s Republic of China (including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation could not get HHS grants, subgrants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other HHS funding for such research.
  • Congress and oversight: The HHS Secretary must send a detailed report explaining any new “country of concern” designation to 6 specified congressional committees within 60 days.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Limits HHS funding for foreign animal testing

This bill would prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from funding or conducting biomedical research that tests vertebrate animals with facilities or entities based in certain foreign countries. Covered countries would include the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong), Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The ban would apply to grants, subgrants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other funding mechanisms. The Secretary could add other countries as "foreign countries of concern" only after consulting the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense. If the Secretary designates a country of concern, the Secretary would have to send a detailed report to six specific House and Senate committees within 60 days. Vertebrate animals means animals with backbones.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

IA • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/11/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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