United States 118th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 6 R · 3 D cosponsors

S 2397 — WATCH Act

Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Worldwide Animal Testing Compliance and Harmonization Act of 2023 or the WATCH ActThis bill subjects foreign laboratories that receive federal funds and that conduct animal research to U.S. animal welfare regulations.The National Institutes of Health must establish a process to inspect these laboratories on a quarterly basis to ensure compliance with U.S. animal welfare regulations, such as the use of animal care committees and evaluations of animal care and treatment. Laboratories that are found to be noncompliant, and that do not take appropriate corrective action, are subject to funding revocation.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes inspection and certification requirements for foreign laboratories conducting animal research funded by the NIH to ensure compliance with animal welfare standards.

  • 42 U.S.C. 289d

    (f) Inspection and Certification of Foreign Laboratories.-- (1) In general.--As a condition of eligibility to perform research involving animals under a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement administered by the National Institutes of Health or any national research institute, a laboratory located outside the United States that receives Federal funds shall be subject to quarterly inspections to evaluate compliance with the requirements under this title. (2) Inspection and certification requirements.-- (A) Quarterly inspection process.--The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate foreign regulatory authorities and international organizations, shall establish and implement a process for conducting quarterly inspections of foreign laboratories that have received an Animal Welfare Assurance (as defined in section 9.2 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations) to ensure their continued compliance with the requirements under this title. (B) Assurances.--The inspection process established by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall evaluate the compliance of foreign laboratories with the requirements under subsection (c)(1), including-- (i) the establishment and operation of animal care committees; (ii) the review and evaluation of animal care and treatment; and (iii) proper record-keeping and reporting procedures. (3) Certification of compliance and public access.-- (A) Issuance.--Following each quarterly inspection required under paragraph (2), the inspecting authority shall issue a certification of compliance to the laboratories determined to be in compliance with the requirements under paragraph (2)(B). (B) Public access.--Copies of the certificates of compliance issued pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be maintained by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare and shall remain publicly accessible with other information about currently issued Animal Welfare Assurances. (C) Corrective action.--Laboratories that fail to comply with the requirements under paragraph (2)(B) shall be given a reasonable opportunity to take corrective action. (4) Suspension or revocation of grant or contract for non-compliant foreign laboratories.--If the Secretary determines that a foreign facility is not in compliance with the requirements under subsection (c)(1) and does not take appropriate corrective action after given a reasonable opportunity to do so, the Secretary shall suspend or revoke the applicable grant, contract, or cooperative agreement involving research on animals under such conditions as the Director of NIH determines appropriate, in accordance with subsection (d). (5) Designation of inspecting authority.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of NIH, shall designate an appropriate authority to conduct the quarterly inspections required under paragraph (2) and issue certifications of compliance in accordance with paragraph (3). (6) Coordination with foreign authorities.--The Secretary and the Director of NIH shall coordinate with appropriate foreign regulatory authorities and enter into agreements with foreign governments, as needed, to facilitate the implementation and enforcement of this subsection, while respecting the sovereignty and laws of foreign nations.

    This addition creates a framework for inspecting foreign laboratories to ensure they meet American animal welfare standards.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 538 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (538)

538 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

What does S 2397 do?
Worldwide Animal Testing Compliance and Harmonization Act of 2023 or the WATCH ActThis bill subjects foreign laboratories that receive federal funds and that conduct animal research to U.S. animal welfare regulations.The National Institutes of Health must establish a process to inspect these laboratories on a quarterly basis to ensure compliance with U.S. animal welfare regulations, such as the use of animal care committees and evaluations of animal care and treatment. Laboratories that are found to be noncompliant, and that do not take appropriate corrective action, are subject to funding revocation.
Who sponsors S 2397?
S 2397 is sponsored by Merkley, Jeff (Democratic), Paul, Rand (Republican), Peters, Gary C. (Democratic), Fetterman, John (Democratic), Ricketts, Pete (Republican), Ernst, Joni (Republican), Braun, Mike (Republican), Vance, J. D. (Republican), and Schmitt, Eric (Republican).
What is the current status of S 2397?
This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 2397?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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