Accountability in Foreign Animal Research Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3043
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-26T08:06:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Accountability in Foreign Animal Research Act (H.R. 3043) aims to prevent the use of U.S. taxpayer funds for biomedical research involving animal testing in facilities or by entities connected to certain adversarial foreign countries. It seeks to enhance accountability and national security by restricting federal support for such activities abroad.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Direct or Indirect Research: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is barred from conducting or supporting biomedical research that tests on vertebrate animals (animals with backbones, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish) in any facility or through any entity located in, owned, or controlled by:
- Specified countries: People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong), Islamic Republic of Iran, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and Russian Federation.
- Other countries designated as "foreign countries of concern" by the HHS Secretary, after consulting the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.
- Ban on Funding Mechanisms: HHS cannot provide financial support—through grants, subgrants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other means—for animal-testing biomedical research conducted by entities based in the prohibited countries.
- Reporting Requirement: If the HHS Secretary designates a new country as a concern, a detailed report explaining the reasoning must be submitted to key congressional committees within 60 days. The report goes to committees handling appropriations, health, labor, homeland security, energy, and commerce in both the Senate and House.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new, targeted restriction on HHS funding for animal-based biomedical research tied to adversarial nations. Previously, U.S. federal funds could support international research collaborations without such geographic limitations based on national security concerns. It adds a formal process for expanding the list of restricted countries, requiring inter-agency consultation and congressional notification, which did not exist in prior law.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS will face administrative burdens in reviewing and redirecting research funding, potentially requiring audits of existing grants and collaborations. It may limit partnerships with international institutions, affecting agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that fund global health research.
- On Citizens: U.S. researchers and scientists relying on federal grants for international work could see reduced opportunities, possibly slowing advancements in biomedical fields. Taxpayers' funds are protected from supporting research in adversarial nations, aligning with broader national security goals.
- On International Relations: The bill could strain diplomatic ties with the listed countries by signaling distrust in their research practices, potentially hindering global scientific cooperation on issues like pandemics or disease research. It might encourage allies to adopt similar restrictions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government Entities: HHS (primary enforcer), Departments of State and Defense (for consultations), and specified congressional committees (for oversight and reporting).
- Researchers and Institutions: U.S.-based scientists, universities, and organizations that collaborate internationally on animal-testing research, who may lose funding access.
- Foreign Entities: Labs, universities, and researchers in the specified countries (China, Iran, North Korea, Russia) or future designated nations, facing cutoff from U.S. federal support.
- Advocacy Groups: Animal welfare organizations (potentially supportive due to reduced animal testing funding abroad) and scientific communities (concerned about research limitations).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill enforces funding restrictions through executive action by HHS, with built-in checks via congressional reporting, ensuring transparency without direct judicial involvement. It defines "foreign country of concern" flexibly, allowing adaptation to geopolitical shifts but risking challenges if designations are seen as arbitrary.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power of the purse (control over federal spending under Article I), reinforcing oversight of executive foreign policy in research funding. No direct conflicts with free speech or association rights, as it targets government funds rather than private activities.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan concerns over technology transfer and biosecurity risks from adversarial nations, potentially setting a precedent for similar restrictions in other federal funding areas (e.g., AI or defense research). It could fuel debates on balancing scientific openness with national security, especially amid U.S.-China tensions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-9]
Cosponsors (10)
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-04-28: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Accountability in Foreign Animal Research Act — issued 2025-04-28 — PDF (4 pages)