Preventing Animal Abuse and Waste Act; PAAW Act
Summary
The Preventing Animal Abuse and Waste Act (PAAW Act) aims to amend the Public Health Service Act. It seeks to prohibit the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from conducting or funding research that causes significant pain or distress to dogs and cats. The bill defines 'significant pain or distress' using pain categories established by the Department of Agriculture.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the PAAW Act would restrict the types of research the NIH can conduct or fund involving dogs and cats. Research causing significant pain or distress, as defined by USDA pain categories D and E, would be prohibited. This could lead to a shift in research methodologies or a reduction in certain types of studies.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially reduces animal suffering in research.
- Aligns research practices more closely with ethical concerns about animal welfare.
- May encourage the development of alternative research methods that do not involve animal testing.
- Could improve public perception of scientific research.
- May lead to refinement of pain assessment and management in animal research.
Potential Disadvantages
- May hinder scientific progress in areas where dog and cat models are crucial.
- Could increase the cost of research if alternative methods are more expensive.
- May lead to research being conducted in other countries with less stringent animal welfare standards.
- Potentially limits the scope of research into diseases affecting dogs and cats.
- May face resistance from the scientific community due to perceived limitations on research freedom.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the general welfare clause of the Constitution, as it aims to address public concerns about animal welfare in research. However, the Constitution does not explicitly address animal rights or research practices. The power of Congress to regulate activities related to funding and research falls under its enumerated powers to promote the general welfare (Preamble) and potentially under the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8) if the research involves interstate commerce.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).