Sec. 247.
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None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to conduct research commencing on or after the date of enactment of this Act, that uses any canine, feline, or non-human primate unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves such research specifically and in writing pursuant to subsection (b). The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may approve the conduct of research commencing on or after the date of enactment of this Act, using canines, felines, or non-human primates if the Secretary certifies that— 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 animal models, in vitro models, computational models, human clinical studies, or other research alternatives; such scientific objectives are necessary to advance research benefiting veterans and are directly related to an illness or injury that is combat-related as defined by 10 U.S.C. 1413(e) ; the research is consistent with the revised Department of Veterans Affairs canine research policy document dated December 15, 2017, including any subsequent revisions to such document; and ethical considerations regarding minimizing the harm experienced by canines, felines, or non-human primates are included in evaluating the scientific necessity of the research.
The Secretary may not delegate the authority under this subsection. If the Secretary approves any new research pursuant to subsection (b), not later than 30 days before the commencement of such research, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives a report describing— the nature of the research to be conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates; the date on which the Secretary approved the research; the USDA pain category on the approved use; the justification for the determination of the Secretary that the scientific objectives of such research could only be met using canines, felines, or non-human primates, and methods used to make such determination; the frequency and duration of such research; and the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, safety, and efficacy of the research, and animal welfare.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report describing— any research being conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs using canines, felines, or non-human primates as of the date of the submittal of the report; the circumstances under which such research was conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates; the justification for using canines, felines, or non-human primates to conduct such research; the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, safety, and efficacy of such research; and the development and adoption of alternatives to canines, felines, or non-human primate research.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Department of Veterans Affairs must submit to voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections of canine, feline, and non-human primate research facilities. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report describing — any violations of the Animal Welfare Act, the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, or other Department of Veterans Affairs policies related to oversight of animal research found during that quarter in VA research facilities; immediate corrective actions taken; and specific actions taken to prevent their recurrence.
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 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
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