AFTER Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.5244 | Sponsor: Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. (D-PA)
Policy area: Animals

Summary:
Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research Act of 2021 or the AFTER Act of 2021
This bill requires federal research facilities to facilitate the adoption or nonlaboratory placement of certain warm-blooded animals (e.g., dogs, cats, monkeys, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits) with animal rescue organizations, animal sanctuaries, animal shelters, or individuals. In order to be adopted or placed, the animals must (1) no longer be needed for research; (2) be suitable for release; (3) not be birds, rats, or mice.

To amend the Animal Welfare Act to allow for the adoption or non-
 laboratory placement of certain animals used in Federal research, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Animal Freedom from Testing, 
Experiments, and Research Act of 2021'' or the ``AFTER Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. PLACEMENT OF ANIMALS USED IN FEDERAL RESEARCH.

    Section 14 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2144) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 14. STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL FACILITIES.

    ``(a) Laboratory Animal Facilities and Exhibitors.--Any department, 
agency, or instrumentality of the United States having laboratory 
animal facilities or exhibiting animals shall comply with the standards 
and other requirements promulgated by the Secretary under sections 
13(a), (f), (g), and (h).
    ``(b) Adoption and Non-Laboratory Placement.--Any department, 
agency, or instrumentality of the United States operating as a Federal 
research facility shall, not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, promulgate standards and other 
requirements that, in the determination of the department, agency, or 
instrumentality, facilitates the adoption or non-laboratory placement 
of any animal of the facility no longer needed for research and 
determined to be suitable for release to an animal rescue organization, 
animal sanctuary, animal shelter, or individual.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Animal rescue organization.--The term `animal rescue 
        organization' means an organization--
                    ``(A) described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation 
                under section 501(a) of such Code; and
                    ``(B) with the purpose of rescuing animals that are 
                unwanted, abandoned, or otherwise in need of placement 
                and finding permanent adoptive homes for such animals.
            ``(2) Animal sanctuary.--The term `animal sanctuary' means 
        an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 
        501(a) of such Code that--
                    ``(A) is registered with the Secretary;
                    ``(B) operates a place of refuge--
                            ``(i) where an unwanted, displaced, or 
                        retired animal is provided care for the 
                        lifetime of such animal; and
                            ``(ii) where an unescorted public 
                        visitation of such an animal is not permitted;
                    ``(C) does not engage in commercial trade of such 
                an animal;
                    ``(D) does not breed such an animal;
                    ``(E) does not permit direct contact between the 
                public and such an animal;
                    ``(F) does not allow the use of such an animal for 
                performance or exhibition purposes; and
                    ``(G) does not conduct research that pains or 
                distresses such an animal.
            ``(3) Animal shelter.--The term `animal shelter' means a 
        facility that accepts or seizes animals to care for such 
        animals, place such animals in a permanent adoptive home, or 
        carry out law enforcement purposes.''.
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