HELP PETS Act
Sponsored By: Representative Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would bar federal funding to institutions of higher education that conduct or fund painful research on dogs or cats, while allowing narrowly tailored exceptions for clinical veterinary studies and certain service or military animal activities.
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- Colleges and universities would lose eligibility for any federal funds that directly or indirectly support dog or cat research classified as pain category D or E, effective 180 days after enactment.
- Clinical veterinary research on dogs or cats with naturally occurring disease is exempt, so treatment-focused studies meant to benefit the animal can continue.
- Physical exams, training programs, or studies related to service animals or military animals are exempt from the funding prohibition.
- The bill relies on withholding federal funds as the enforcement mechanism and does not create new funding streams or penalties.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Colleges could lose funds for painful animal tests
If enacted, colleges and universities that conduct or fund painful research on dogs or cats would be barred from receiving federal funds. The ban would start 180 days after the bill becomes law. It would apply to money given directly or through another group, even if it only partly supports the research. It would not apply to clinical veterinary research that treats a dog or cat with a naturally occurring disease or injury, or to exams, training, or studies for service or military animals. Painful research means tests in USDA pain category D or E.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Cosponsors
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov