I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6716 
To establish a program to provide grants and loans to facilitate the care, 
rehabilitation, and welfare of domestic animals in rural areas, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 15, 2025 
Mr. HERNA´NDEZ (for himself, Ms. NORTON, and Ms. TITUS) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To establish a program to provide grants and loans to facili-
tate the care, rehabilitation, and welfare of domestic 
animals in rural areas, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Save Animals Through 
Operational Shelters Act of 2025’’ or the ‘‘SATOS Act 
of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Rural communities often lack adequate in-
frastructure (including animal shelters and veteri-
nary care facilities) to support animal welfare. 
(2) Associations, units of general local govern-
ment, nonprofit corporations, and Indian Tribes play 
a critical role in promoting the health, safety, and 
humane treatment of animals. 
(3) Investment in animal care facilities contrib-
utes to public health, safety, and community well- 
being. 
SEC. 3. GRANTS AND LOANS FOR DOMESTIC ANIMAL CARE 
FACILITIES IN RURAL AREAS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program to provide a grant or loan to an eligible enti-
ty— 
(1) to construct, expand, or renovate a facility 
in a rural area for— 
(A) an animal shelter; 
(B) an animal adoption center; 
(C) a veterinary care clinic; 
(D) a spay and neuter clinic; 
(E) an animal control operation; or 
(F) an emergency animal shelter; or 
(2) to purchase or install equipment, fur-
nishings, vehicles, or technology for such a facility. 
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(b) TERMS OF GRANT.— 
(1) AMOUNT.—The total amount that may be 
provided as grants under subsection (a) for a fiscal 
year may not exceed $10,000,000. 
(2) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary shall, 
by rule, establish the amount of the Federal 
share of the cost of developing a facility pursu-
ant to a grant under subsection (a). 
(B) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The amount of a 
grant provided under subsection (a) for a facil-
ity may not exceed 75 percent of the cost of de-
veloping such facility. 
(C) GRADUATED
SCALE.—The Secretary 
shall establish a graduated scale for the amount 
of the Federal share provided under this para-
graph, with a greater Federal share, not more 
than the maximum amount described in sub-
paragraph (B), for a facility located in a com-
munity that has a lesser population or income 
level, as determined by the Secretary. 
(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.— 
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has experience in the planning, design, operation, or 
management of a facility described in subsection 
(a)(1), as demonstrated in the application for such 
grant submitted by such eligible entity. 
(3) FUNDING.—Not less than 3 nor more than 
5 percent of any funds appropriated to carry out 
this section for a fiscal year shall be reserved for 
grants under this subsection. 
(d) RULE MAKING.—Within 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize a rule 
to carry out this section. 
(e) IMPLEMENTATION.—Within 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall begin pro-
viding grants and loans under subsection (a). 
(f) REPORTS.—Within 2 years after the date of en-
actment of this Act, and not less frequently than every 
2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
the Senate a report describing— 
(1) the amount of grants and loans provided 
under subsections (a) and (c); 
(2) the geographic distribution of the recipients 
of such grants and loans; 
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(3) the outcomes achieved by such grants and 
loans; and 
(4) any recommendations for improving the ef-
fectiveness of the program established under sub-
section (a). 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘domestic animal’’ means an ani-
mal, including a dog, cat, guinea pig, hamster, rab-
bit, or bird, that is not kept by the owner for any 
commercial purpose. 
(2) The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means— 
(A) a State, local, or Tribal government or 
an agency thereof; or 
(B) a nonprofit corporation. 
(3) The term ‘‘rural area’’ means any area 
other than— 
(A) a city or town that has a population of 
greater than 50,000 inhabitants; and 
(B) the urbanized area contiguous and ad-
jacent to such a city or town. 
(4) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Agriculture, acting through the Under Secretary 
of Agriculture for Rural Development. 
Æ 
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