Supporting Our Shelters Act
Summary
The "Supporting Our Shelters Act" (H.R. 5020) aims to amend the Animal Welfare Act by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program for entities that provide care to animals. These grants would support activities such as feeding, sheltering, veterinary care, recreational activities, and staff training and retention. The bill also mandates reporting requirements for both grant recipients and the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure accountability and transparency.
Expected Effects
This act would provide financial assistance to animal shelters, potentially improving the quality of care for animals in these facilities. It would also increase oversight and accountability through reporting requirements. The Secretary of Agriculture will be required to promulgate regulations to carry out the grant program.
Potential Benefits
- Improved care for animals in shelters through increased funding.
- Enhanced staff training and retention in animal care facilities.
- Increased transparency and accountability in the use of funds through reporting requirements.
- Support for animal shelters to provide essential services like feeding and veterinary care.
- Potential for increased recreational activities for animals in shelters, improving their well-being.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for bureaucratic delays in establishing and implementing the grant program.
- Increased administrative burden on the Department of Agriculture to manage the grant program and review reports.
- Possible challenges in ensuring equitable distribution of grants among eligible entities.
- The act does not specify the amount of funding allocated to the grant program, which could limit its impact.
- Potential for increased regulatory burden on animal shelters due to new reporting requirements.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the General Welfare Clause of the Constitution, as it aims to promote the well-being of animals. Specifically, the preamble states the intention to "promote the general Welfare". The establishment of a grant program falls under the legislative powers granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8, which allows them to allocate funds for the general welfare. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
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).