PAAW Act
Sponsored By: Representative Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
Introduced
Summary
Prohibits the NIH from conducting or funding research that causes significant pain or distress to dogs or cats. The bill would add Section 447E to the Public Health Service Act and bar NIH support for any study assigned pain category D or E under the Department of Agriculture's Pain and Distress Categories. The restriction would take effect 90 days after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
NIH limits on painful dog and cat research
This bill would bar NIH from conducting or funding studies that cause significant pain or distress to dogs or cats. Covered studies would include those labeled pain category D or E by the Department of Agriculture, or any successor categories under the Animal Welfare Act. The ban would start 90 days after enactment. NIH-funded researchers and institutions would need to avoid these procedures in dog and cat studies.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
SC • R
Cosponsors
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Obernolte
CA • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Nehls
TX • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Webster (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov