# 119-s-1538: Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025

119-s-1538, Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1538
- As of: 2026-09-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1538
- Congress: 119
- Title: Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-04-30
- Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT)
- Cosponsors: 39
- Policy area: Animals
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-16

## Summary

**Stronger federal enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act.** The bill would expand who can enforce the law, give the Attorney General new civil enforcement powers, and add licensing, tougher penalties, and seizure authority to protect animals.

## Cosponsors (39)

- Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] (R-LA), 2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-07-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] (R-ME), 2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI] (D-MI), 2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-10-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-11-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-11-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (D-RI), 2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-12-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-12-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-11-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-11-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-11-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-10-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-11-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] (D-PA), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-08-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New license rule for animal dealers: cost, medium. This bill would bar dealers and exhibitors from selling or transporting animals in commerce without a valid, unsuspended license. You would need that license to continue commercial activity.
- Stronger federal animal enforcement powers: cost, medium. This bill would let the Attorney General sue in federal court to stop animal welfare violations. Courts could order removal or relocation of animals and issue warrants to seize animals. Penalties could be up to $10,000 for each violation for each day it continues. The government could recover reaso…

## Related bills

- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.
- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.
- 119-sres-723: A resolution honoring the life of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, former United States Senator for the State of Idaho.

## Sources
- [119-s-1538 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1538)

## Related
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [119-sres-723: A resolution honoring the life of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, former United States…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-723)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1538 (as of 2026-09-16).