PAAW Act

This legislative proposal aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to restrict research involving certain animals. Specifically, it would prohibit the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from conducting or financially supporting any research that inflicts significant pain or distress upon dogs or cats . The bill defines "research that causes significant pain or distress" by referencing the Department of Agriculture's Pain and Distress Categories, specifically including studies assigned to categories D or E. This measure seeks to enhance animal welfare standards in federally funded scientific investigations. If enacted, these new restrictions would become applicable 90 days following the bill's passage into law.