US Congress Overview – 2023 Session
U.S. CONGRESS
Legislative Overview – 2023-24 Session
(Adjourns on January 2, 2024)
65 pet related items were proposed during the 1st year of the 2023-24 legislative session, 48 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| H.R 94 | “American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act”: Amends the Endangered Species Act to prevent a species that is not native to the United States from being listed as an endangered or threatened species. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 99 | “Less Imprecision in Species Treatment Act of 2023”: Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide for improved precision in the listing, delisting, and downlisting of endangered and potentially endangered species. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 518 | “Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act of 2023”: Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require publication on the Internet of the basis for determination that species are endangered or threatened. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 1142 | “Listing Reform Act”: Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require review of the economic cost of adding a species to the list of endangered or threatened species. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 1184/S. 502 | “Healthy Dog Importation Act”: Amends the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.) by adding a new Section 10404A (Importation of Live Dogs) to provide for certain restrictions and requirements for importing dogs into the United States. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 1418/S. 1844 | “Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2023”: Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to reauthorize user fee programs relating to new animal drugs and generic new animal drugs. | ENACTED (INCLUDED IN H.R. 5860) |
| H.R. 1558 | “Saving America’s Vulnerable Endangered Species Act” (SAVES Act): Amends the ESA of 1973 to provide that nonnative species in the U.S. shall not be treated as endangered species or threatened species for purposes of that Act. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 1624 | “Puppy Protection Act of 2023”: Amends Sections 2132 (Definitions) and 2143 (Standards and certification process for humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals) of the Animal Welfare Act to further provide for the humane treatment of dogs by dog dealers. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 1788 | “Goldie’s Act”: Amends the Animal Welfare Act to require that USDA have access to breeding facilities at all reasonable times, make inspections at least once a year, and record all violations. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 3419/S. 1666 | ‘‘Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2023’’: Amends the Animal Health Protection Act to reauthorize the animal disease prevention and management programs. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 3709 | “Keeping Pets and Families Together Act”: Amends Section 2158 (Protection of Pets) of the Animal Welfare Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to award grants to support the microchipping of dogs and cats in the care of animal shelters or similar establishments. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 3859 | “Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act”: Amends Title 7 (Agriculture), Chapter 54 (Transportation, Sale and Handling of Certain Animals) – Animal Welfare Act – by adding provisions for license issuance and suspension, prohibited activities, inspections, citizen lawsuits, and publication of violations by USDA licensees. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 3957 | “Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2023’’: The ‘‘PUPP Act of 2023’ would authorize the Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to make grants to eligible entities to modify and upgrade structures to serve as interim and permanent housing to accommodate unhoused individuals with pets. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 3881/S. 1838 | “Credit Card Competition Act of 2023”: Amends Title 15 (Commerce & Trade), Chapter 41 (Consumer Credit Protection), Subchapter IV (Electronic Fund Transfers) of U.S. Code to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve system to prescribe regulations relating to network competition in credit card transactions. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 3989 | “Pets Belong with Family Act”: Amends Title 42 (Public Health & Welfare), Chapter 8 (Low-Income Housing), Subchapter 1 (General Program of Assisted Housing), Section 1437z-3 (Pet ownership in public housing) of U.S. Code to prohibit public housing agencies from imposing breed restrictions on household pets owned by residents of dwelling units in public housing. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 4368 | “Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024”: Provides FY 2024 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies (includes funding for agency dog importation oversight and zoonotic disease programs). | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 4665 | “Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024”: Makes appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024 (to include funding for response to emerging zoonotic infectious diseases). | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 4750/S. 2370 | “Bring Animals Relief and Kibble Act of 2023”: The “BARK Act of 2023” amends the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, which provides criminal and civil liability protections to people and businesses that make good faith donations of food to nonprofits serving needy individuals, to include donations of pet food and supplies to animal shelters. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 4809/S. 2067 | “Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act” or the “SAVES Act”: Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to nonprofit organizations to assist such organizations in carrying out programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 4922/S. 1614 | “Lacey Act Amendments of 2023”: Amends Title 18 (Crimes & Criminal Procedure), Chapter 3 (Animals, Birds, Fish and Plants), Section 42 (Importation or shipment of injurious mammals, birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibia, and reptiles; permits, specimens for museums; regulations) of U.S. Code to enhance protections against the importation, and transport between States, of injurious species, and for other purposes. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 5041/S. 2555 | ‘‘Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2023’’: The ‘‘Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023’’ amends the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen the U.S. Department of Justice’s enforcement power against animal abusers by allowing the department to levy civil penalties against abusers, suspend and revoke their licenses, and remove or relocate animals who may be experiencing harmful treatment. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 5504/S. 2811 | Endangered Species Act Rules Repeal: Requires the Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to withdraw proposed rules relating to the Endangered Species Act of 1973. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 5860 | “Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act”: Includes language from the “Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2023” (AGDUFA) which amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to reauthorize user fee programs relating to new animal drugs and generic new animal drugs. | ENACTED |
| H.R. 5897 | “Supporting our Shelters Act”: Would amend the Animal Welfare Act – Title 7 (Agriculture), Chapter 54 (Transportation, Sale, and Handling of Certain Animals), Section 2158 (Protection of Pets) of U.S. Code – to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which the Secretary will award grants to entities for purposes of supporting the capability of such entities to provide care to animals in their care. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| H.R. 6053/S. 3127 | “Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2023”: Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to reduce the production and use of certain single-use plastic products and packaging, to improve the responsibility of producers in the design, collection, reuse, recycling, and disposal of consumer products and packaging, to prevent pollution from consumer products and packaging from entering into animal and human food chains and waterways, and for other purposes. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| S. 2333 | ‘‘Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Response Act’’: Reauthorizes certain programs under the Public Health Service Act with respect to public health security and all-hazards preparedness and response, and for other purposes. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| S. 771 | “Saving America’s Vulnerable Endangered Species Act”: The “SAVES Act” amends the ESA of 1973 to include a prohibition on the listing of a living nonnative species as a threatened species or an endangered species. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSSION |
| APHIS-2020-0068 | Animal Welfare Act Amendment (Birds): U.S. Department of Agriculture/APHIS rulemaking to amend the Animal Welfare Act to ensure the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of birds not bred for use in research that are used, or intended for use, for research, teaching, testing, experimentation, or exhibition purposes, or as a pet. | ADOPTED |
| CDC-2022-0008 | Animal Import Requirement Comment Invitation: Centers for Disease Control (CDC) inviting public comment on a proposed information collection project titled Importation Regulations (42 CFR 71 subpart F), which specifies the requirements for importing animals or animal products that are regulated by CDC into the United States. | COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRED |
| FDA-2021-N-1305 | Antimicrobial Drug Usage Comment Invitation: FDA comment solicitation from the public on antimicrobial drug use practices in companion animals and the potential impacts of such uses on antimicrobial resistance in both humans and animals. | COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRED |
| APHIS-2021-0052-001 | Veterinary Diagnostic Fees: Amends Title 9 (Animals & Animal Products), Chapter 1 (APHIS, USDA), Subchapter F, Part 130 (User Fees) of U.S. Code of Federal Regulations to: 1) Specify the methodology (formula) used to calculate the fees (including imputed costs) APHIS charges for veterinary diagnostic services and for certain import-related and export-related services for live animals, animal products and byproducts, birds, germplasm, organisms, and vectors; and 2) Update the fees using a notice-based process. | ADOPTED |
| APHIS- 2022-0022-0001 | Wild/Exotic Animal Handling Comment Invitation: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking solicits public comment on APHIS’ plans to propose amendments to enhance regulations and standards for animals covered under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) in three areas: 1) Public handling of wild and exotic animals at licensed exhibitors; 2) The training of personnel who handle wild and exotic animals in these settings; and 3) Environmental enrichment to promote the psychological well-being of all species covered under the Animal Welfare Act. | COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRED |
| FWS-HQ-ES-2023-0018 | Endangered Species Act Blanket 4(d) Rule Reinstatement: Proposed U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service rulemaking (FWS-HQ-ES-2023-0018) amends Title 16 (Conservation), Chapter 35 (Endangered Species), Section 1533 (Determination of endangered species and threatened species), Section 4d (Protective Regulations) of U.S. Code to reinstate its previous blanket 4(d) rule which automatically conveys the same protections for threatened species as for endangered species (removed in 2019). | COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRED |
| FWS–HQ–ES–2021–0107 | Endangered Species Act Listing – Economic Factor Reinstatement: Amends Title 50 (Wildlife & Fisheries), Chapter IV (Joint Regulations), Part 424 (Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat), Subpart B (Revision of the Lists), Section 424.11 (Factors for listing, delisting, or reclassifying species) of the Code of Federal Regulations) to restore the provision (removed in 2019) that economic impacts and any other impacts that might flow from a listing decision must not be taken into account when making listing, reclassification, and delisting (collectively, classification) determinations. | COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRED |
| CDC–2023–0051 | Dog Importation – Dog Maintained Rabies Variant: Amends Title 42 (Public Health), Chapter 1 (Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services), Subchapter F (Quarantine, Inspection, Licensing), Part 71 (Foreign Quarantine), Subpart F (Importations), Section 71.51 (Dogs and Cats) of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding its foreign quarantine regulation to provide additional clarity and safeguards to address the public health risk of dog maintained rabies virus variant (DMRVV) associated with the importation of dogs into the United States. | COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRED |
| NOAA–NMFS–2023–0099 | Banggai Cardinal Fish Prohibitions: Proposed National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) rulemaking to promulgate protective regulations to apply a subset of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 9 prohibitions to the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni). | COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRED |
| CDC-2023-0075 | National One Health Framework Comment Invitation: A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Request for Comment – (“National One Health Framework to Address Zoonotic Diseases and Advance Public Health Preparedness in the United States: A Framework for One Health Coordination and Collaboration across Federal Agencies.”). | COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRED |
| APHIS-2022-0014-0001 | Dog Importation – African Swine Fever Countries: A proposed USDA/APHIS rulemaking amending Title 9 (Animal & Animal Products), Chapter 1 (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture), Subchapter D (Exportation and Importation of Animals and Animal Products), Part 93 (Importation of Certain Animals, Birds, Fish, and Poultry Products; Requirements for Means of Conveyance and Shipping Containers), Subpart F (Dogs), Section 93.600 (Importation of Dogs) of U.S. Code by adding a new subsection to establish requirements regarding the importation of live dogs for resale, whether through retail or wholesale channels or fee-based adoption, from regions where African swine fever (ASF) exists or is reasonably believed to exist. | COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRED |
View ALL U.S. Congressional legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.
View ALL local ordinances tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023 session.
View ALL federal and state issues tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.