tions of both Houses of Congress at least 30 days prior 
to any such action and an approval is issued by the Com-
mittees. 
SEC. 245. For funds provided to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2025 and 2026, 
section 248 of division A of Public Law 114–223 shall 
apply. 
SEC. 246. (a) None of the funds appropriated or oth-
erwise made available by this Act may be used to conduct 
research commencing on or after March 9, 2024, that uses 
any canine, feline, or non-human primate unless the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs approves such research specifi-
cally and in writing pursuant to subsection (b). 
(b)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may approve 
the conduct of research commencing on or after March 
9, 2024, using canines, felines, or non-human primates if 
the Secretary certifies that— 
(A) the scientific objectives of the research can 
only be met by using such canines, felines, or non- 
human primates and cannot be met using other ani-
mal models, in vitro models, computational models, 
human clinical studies, or other research alter-
natives; 
(B) such scientific objectives are necessary to 
advance research benefiting veterans and are directly 
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related to an illness or injury that is combat-related 
as defined by 10 U.S.C. 1413(e); 
(C) the research is consistent with the revised 
Department of Veterans Affairs canine research pol-
icy document dated December 15, 2017, including 
any subsequent revisions to such document; and 
(D) ethical considerations regarding minimizing 
the harm experienced by canines, felines, or non- 
human primates are included in evaluating the sci-
entific necessity of the research. 
(2) The Secretary may not delegate the authority 
under this subsection. 
(c) If the Secretary approves any new research pursu-
ant to subsection (b), not later than 30 days before the 
commencement of such research, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report describing— 
(1) the nature of the research to be conducted 
using canines, felines, or nun-human primates; 
(2) the date on which the Secretary approved 
the research 
(3) the USDA pain category on the approved 
use 
(4) the justification for the determination of the 
Secretary that the scientific objectives of such re-
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search could only be met using canines, felines, or 
nun-hman primates, and methods used to make such 
determination; 
(5) the frequency and duration of such re-
search; and 
(6) the protocols in place to ensure the neces-
sity, safety, and efficacy of the research, and animal 
welfare. 
(d) Not later than September 9, 2024, and biannually 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees 
a report describing— 
(1) any research being conducted by the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs using canines, felines, 
or non-human primates as of the date of the sub-
mittal of the report; 
(2) the circumstances under which such re-
search was conducted using canines, felines, or non- 
human primates; 
(3) the justification for using canines, felines, 
or non-human primates to conduct such research; 
(4) the protocols in place to ensure the neces-
sity, safety, and efficacy of such research; and 
(5) the development and adoption of alter-
natives to canines, felines, or non-human primates 
research. 
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(e) Not later than September 9, 2024, and annually 
thereafter, the Department of Veterans Affairs must sub-
mit to voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture inspec-
tions of canine, feline, and non-human primate research 
facilities. 
(f) Not later than September 9, 2024, and annually 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees 
a report describing — 
(1) any violations of the Animal Welfare Act, 
the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care 
and Use of Laboratory Animals, or other Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs policies related to oversight 
of animal research found during that quarter in VA 
research facilities; 
(2) immediate corrective actions taken; and 
(3) specific actions taken to prevent their recur-
rence. 
(g) The Department shall implement a plan under 
which the Secretary will eliminate the research conducted 
using canines, felines, or non-human primates by not later 
than March 9, 2026. 
SEC. 247. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in 
this title to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time 
employment equivalents within any program of rehabilita-
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tion conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States 
Code, does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time em-
ployment equivalent. 
(b) Not later than 180 days after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report on the programs of rehabilitation conducted 
under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, includ-
ing— 
(1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio 
for each such program; and 
(2) recommendations for such action as the 
Secretary considers necessary to reduce the veteran- 
to-staff ratio for each such program. 
SEC. 248. Amounts made available for the ‘‘Veterans 
Health Administration, Medical Community Care’’ ac-
count in this or any other Act for fiscal years 2025 and 
2026 may be used for expenses that would otherwise be 
payable from the Veterans Choice Fund established by 
section 802 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Account-
ability Act, as amended (38 U.S.C. 1701 note). 
SEC. 249. Obligations and expenditures applicable to 
the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account in fiscal years 2017 
through 2019 for aid to state homes (as authorized by 
section 1741 of title 38, United States Code) shall remain 
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