HR2976-119

What This Bill Does

The Cold-blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act amends the Animal Welfare Act's definition of animal. It keeps the warm-blooded animal language but adds cold-blooded animals, including reptiles, amphibians, cephalopods, and fish, when they are used or intended for research, testing, experimentation, exhibition, or as pets. It preserves several exclusions: birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus bred for research; horses not used for research; and farmed animals, including livestock, poultry, or fish used for food or fiber or for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, production efficiency, or food and fiber quality. The bill would bring more laboratories, exhibitors, and pet-related handlers of cold-blooded species into Animal Welfare Act coverage while avoiding food-production fish and livestock operations.

Who Benefits and How

Animal welfare researchers benefit because cold-blooded species used in research would have clearer federal care standards. Animal exhibitors benefit from clearer rules for reptiles, amphibians, cephalopods, and fish used in exhibition. USDA inspectors benefit from clearer statutory authority over covered cold-blooded species. Animal welfare organizations benefit because the Animal Welfare Act would reach more research, testing, experimentation, exhibition, and pet settings.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Research laboratories using cold-blooded animals must comply with Animal Welfare Act requirements if the animals are used for covered purposes. Zoos and exhibitors handling reptiles, amphibians, cephalopods, or fish face broader federal animal-welfare oversight. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service staff must administer the expanded definition. Pet trade businesses involving covered cold-blooded animals may face new compliance duties.

Key Provisions

• Amends the Animal Welfare Act definition of animal to include cold-blooded animals.
• Adds reptiles, amphibians, cephalopods, and fish when used for research, testing, experimentation, exhibition, or as pets.
• Preserves exclusions for research-bred birds, rats, and mice, horses not used for research, and farmed food or fiber animals.
• Expands USDA animal-welfare oversight for covered cold-blooded species outside the preserved exclusions.