Supporting Our Shelters Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5020

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Animals

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Last Updated

2026-05-16T08:08:05Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Supporting Our Shelters Act" (H.R. 5020) aims to improve animal welfare by providing federal funding to support animal shelters and similar organizations. It directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a grant program that helps these entities enhance their ability to care for animals, addressing needs like food, housing, medical treatment, and staffing.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program Establishment: The USDA Secretary must set up a program to award grants to eligible entities, such as animal shelters, to cover costs for animal care including feeding, sheltering, veterinary services, recreational activities, and hiring, training, or retaining staff.
• Grant Duration and Renewal: Grants last up to 3 years and can be renewed if the recipient submits a required report before the term ends.
• Reporting Requirements for Grantees: Starting 180 days after the first grant is awarded, recipients must submit annual detailed reports to the USDA on:
• The number of animals of each species admitted to the shelter and their outcomes (e.g., adoption, transfer, or euthanasia).
• How grant funds were spent during the reporting period.
• Reporting to Congress: Starting 180 days after enactment, the USDA Secretary must provide annual reports to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. These reports detail the program's operations and how funds improved animal care.
• Regulations: The USDA must issue rules to implement the grant program within 180 days of enactment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends Section 28 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2158), a federal law that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, and other settings. It replaces the existing subsection (d) with a new one focused solely on shelter grants and adds a new subsection (e) for rulemaking. Previously, this section addressed other animal welfare education and outreach efforts, but the change shifts emphasis to direct financial support for shelters without altering the core regulatory framework.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The USDA will face new administrative responsibilities, including managing grant applications, overseeing fund distribution, and preparing annual congressional reports. This could increase workload and require additional resources for regulation development.
• On Citizens and Animals: Animal shelters will gain financial support to better care for strays and rescues, potentially leading to higher adoption rates, reduced euthanasia, and improved overall animal welfare. Citizens who volunteer, adopt, or donate to shelters may see enhanced services in their communities.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic animal care without addressing imports, exports, or global standards.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Animal Shelters and Related Entities: Primary beneficiaries, including nonprofits and organizations that house and care for animals (eligible under existing Animal Welfare Act definitions).
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Responsible for program administration, grant awards, and compliance monitoring.
• Congressional Committees: The House Committee on Agriculture and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, which will receive ongoing reports to oversee the program's effectiveness.
• Taxpayers and Animal Welfare Advocates: Indirectly affected through federal funding (source not specified in the bill) and potential improvements in community animal services.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: The bill builds on the Animal Welfare Act without creating new enforcement penalties, focusing instead on voluntary grants and accountability through reporting. It requires prompt rulemaking, which could face challenges if the USDA delays implementation, but includes no controversial mandates on private entities.
• Constitutional Implications: None significant; it involves standard congressional spending authority under Article I, Section 8, for promoting the general welfare, with no apparent free speech, property rights, or federalism issues.
• Political Implications: As a bipartisan-introduced bill (by Representatives Escobar, Garcia of Texas, and Krishnamoorthi), it promotes animal welfare—a non-partisan issue—potentially garnering broad support. However, funding debates in Congress could arise, depending on budget priorities, and it emphasizes transparency to build public trust in federal animal care initiatives.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
• 2025-08-22: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2025-08-22: Introduced in House
• 2025-08-22: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Supporting Our Shelters Act — issued 2025-08-22 — PDF (3 pages)