July 13, 2001

Rats, Mice, and Birds Provision Included in House-Approved Agriculture Bill

The House July 11 passed the FY 2002 Agriculture Appropriations bill, H.R. 2330. Included in the bill is an amendment that bars the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from changing the regulatory definition of animal under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to include rats, mice and birds. The language is a continuation of the same provision included in the FY 2001 appropriations bill. House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Henry Bonilla (R-Texas) was instrumental to the language being included in the bill.

This congressional action is in response to last year's settlement agreement between the USDA and the Alternatives Research and Development Foundation (ARDF), which called for the USDA "to initiate and complete" a rulemaking on changing the definition of animal. The provision bars the USDA from spending any federal funds on proceeding with the rulemaking.

Information: Erica Froyd, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.