Federal Animal Research Accountability Act

Full Title:
Federal Animal Research Accountability Act of 2025

Summary#

This bill changes a section of the Public Health Service Act to make NIH-funded research entities report more detailed annual counts of animals used in research. Each year those entities must file a form that shows the total number of animals bred, housed, and used in the prior fiscal year. The form must break those totals down by common species and by four categories: (i) animals used in work that caused no pain or distress (including routine procedures like injections or blood sampling); (ii) animals used in work that caused pain or distress but were given appropriate anesthetic, pain-relief, or tranquilizing drugs; (iii) animals used in work that caused pain or distress where using those drugs would have interfered with the research; and (iv) animals being bred or held for future use but not yet used. The Director of NIH must provide a form to each research entity's animal care committee and must post the filed form online in a publicly accessible, searchable database no later than 3 months after it is filed. The new reporting rules begin 2 years after the bill becomes law.

What it means for you#

  • If you work at an institution that receives NIH funds for biomedical or behavioral research, your institution will need to file an annual form with detailed animal counts and categories described above.
  • Each institution's animal care committee will receive a copy of the form the NIH provides for collecting this information.
  • Members of the public will be able to search the filed forms online within 3 months after each form is filed.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill's stated purpose is to "improve the accuracy and transparency of animal use data collected by the National Institutes of Health." No other public statements by proponents are included in the provided materials.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.