HR3709-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Keeping Pets and Families Together Act.

2. Cooperative agreements to support microchipping of dogs and cats The Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 28 (7 U.S.C. 2158) the following: Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary will enter into cooperative agreements with State and local governments for purposes of supporting the capability of entities described in subsection (b) to provide for microchipping of dogs and cats in their care before allowing such dogs or cats to be recovered by their original owner, adopted by other individuals, or transferred to another animal shelter or rescue organization. An entity described in this subsection is— each pound or shelter owned and operated by a State or a unit of local government; and each private entity established for the purpose of caring for animals, such as a humane society, or other organization that is under contract with a State or a unit of local government that operates as a pound or shelter and that releases animals on a voluntary basis. In this section, the term unit of local government means a county, municipality, town, township, village, or other unit of general government below the State level; There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 28A.Cooperative agreements to support microchipping of dogs and cats (a)In generalSubject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary will enter into cooperative agreements with State and local governments for purposes of supporting the capability of entities described in subsection (b) to provide for microchipping of dogs and cats in their care before allowing such dogs or cats to be recovered by their original owner, adopted by other individuals, or transferred to another animal shelter or rescue organization. (b)Entities describedAn entity described in this subsection is— (1)each pound or shelter owned and operated by a State or a unit of local government; and (2)each private entity established for the purpose of caring for animals, such as a humane society, or other organization that is under contract with a State or a unit of local government that operates as a pound or shelter and that releases animals on a voluntary basis. (c)Unit of local government definedIn this section, the term unit of local government means a county, municipality, town, township, village, or other unit of general government below the State level; (d)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028..

3. Report on effectiveness of microchipping program Not later than December 31, 2028, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that— assesses the effectiveness of the program established under section 28A of the Animal Welfare Act, as added by section 2; contains the Secretary’s recommendation on whether to extend such program for an additional 5-fiscal-year period; and the amount of funding necessary to effectively extend such program over such period.