January 9, 2025
Ms. Malliotakis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To prohibit the availability of Federal funds to institutions of higher education that conduct painful biomedical research on dogs and cats.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Higher Education Loses Payments for Painful Experiments, Tests and Studies Act
or the HELP PETS Act
.
Sec. 2. Prohibition on availability of Federal Funds to Institutions of Higher Education that conduct painful research using dogs and cats
(a) In general
Beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, no Federal funds may be made available to any institution of higher education that conducts or funds, in whole or in part, painful research on dogs or cats.
(b) Exceptions
Subsection (a) shall not apply to—
(1)
clinical veterinary research; or
(2)
any physical exam, training program, or study relating to service animals or military animals.
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Clinical veterinary research
The term clinical veterinary research means research on a dog or cat with a naturally occurring disease or injury that is conducted—
(A)
for the benefit of the dog or cat; and
(B)
with the intention of studying the effect of a procedure, device, or treatment protocol.
(2) Institution of higher education
The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
(3) Military animal
The term military animal has the meaning given the term in section 2583(i)(1) of title 10, United States Code.
(4) Painful research
The term painful research includes any research, biomedical training, experimentation, or biological testing classified in pain category D or E by the Department of Agriculture.
(5) Service animal
The term service animal has the meaning given the term in section 37.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.