H.R. 2976

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2976 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2976

To amend the Animal Welfare Act to include cold-blooded species as 
animals, and for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 21, 2025

Ms. McCollum introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Agriculture

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A BILL

To amend the Animal Welfare Act to include cold-blooded species as 
animals, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Cold-blooded Animal Research and 
Exhibition Act''.

SEC. 2. INCLUDING REPTILES AND FISH AS ANIMALS UNDER ANIMAL WELFARE 
ACT.

Section 2(g) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2132(g)) is 
amended to read as follows:
``(g)(1) The term `animal' means any live or dead warm-blooded 
animal (including a dog, cat, monkey (nonhuman primate mammal), guinea 
pig, hamster, rabbit, or bird), cold-blooded animal (including a 
reptile, amphibian, cephalopod, or fish), or such other animal as the 
Secretary may determine is being used, or is intended for use, for 
research, testing, experimentation, or exhibition purposes, or as a 
pet.
``(2) Such term excludes--
``(A) birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the 
genus Mus, bred for use in research;
``(B) horses not used for research purposes; and
``(C) other farmed animals, such as--
``(i) livestock, poultry, or fish used or intended 
for use as food or fiber; or
``(ii) livestock, poultry, or fish used or intended 
for use for improving animal nutrition, breeding, 
management, or production efficiency, or for improving 
the quality of food or fiber.
``(3) With respect to a dog, such term means all dogs, including 
those used for hunting, security, or breeding purposes.''.
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