May 19, 2025
Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mr. Booker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the National Institutes of Health from awarding any support for an activity or program that uses live animals in research unless the research occurs in the United States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Cease Animal Research Grants Overseas Act of 2025
or the CARGO Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
From fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2021, the National Institutes of Health provided approximately $2,200,000,000 to foreign organizations for research projects involving animals.
(2)
The National Institutes of Health does not conduct inspections of foreign organizations, and these organizations self-report information pertaining to animal welfare, creating a risk that information will be misrepresented.
(3)
The lack of oversight described in paragraph (2) has resulted in the mistreatment of animals used in research projects performed outside the United States and funded by the American public.
Sec. 3. Prohibition on awarding NIH support for use of live animals in research by persons outside of the United States
Section 495 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289d) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(f) Prohibition
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Director of NIH may not award any support, including any grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or technical assistance, for any activity or program that uses live animals in research unless the research occurs in the United States.
(2) Definition of United States
In paragraph (1), the term United States includes—
(A)
each State; and
(B)
each territory and possession of the United States.