Bill > HR2976

This bill proposes to amend the Animal Welfare Act by expanding the definition of "animal" to explicitly include cold-blooded species such as reptiles, amphibians, cephalopods, and fish, alongside the previously defined warm-blooded animals. The bill, named the "Cold-blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act," modifies the existing legal definition to encompass these additional species for research, testing, experimentation, exhibition, and pet purposes. The amendment maintains existing exclusions for certain animals like research-bred rats and mice, horses not used in research, and farm animals used primarily for food, fiber, or production purposes. Importantly, the bill clarifies that the term "animal" now comprehensively covers a broader range of species, ensuring that cold-blooded animals receive similar protections and considerations under the Animal Welfare Act as warm-blooded animals. This expansion recognizes the growing scientific understanding and ethical considerations surrounding the treatment of diverse animal species in research and other contexts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2976/all-info