Bill report includes recommendations we support
The U.S. National Institutes of Health will be encouraged to increase its use of modern, non-animal research methods if a new Appropriations Bill, which determines how much money federal agencies can spend on public health, medical research, and social services, becomes law.
The committee report for the 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, includes language requested by us that encourages the NIH to strengthen its efforts to promote the use of non-animal research methods.
This report contains detailed guidance from Congress to federal agencies on how to allocate funds included in the bill, which would come into effect from September 2026 for Fiscal Year 2027.
It highlights NIH’s recent actions to increase the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and reduce reliance on animals in research. It asks NIH to update Congress on how it is helping researchers to consider non-animal alternatives, encourage the development and use of scientifically robust non-animal methods, and ensure that grant applications are reviewed by experts with relevant expertise in these approaches.
The Committee also urged NIH to find ways to help peer reviewers assess whether researchers have done enough to find available non-animal tests before proposing animal experiments.
Having language encouraged by us included in the bill is important, and we hope that it will remain in the final legislation.
The bill has been passed by the House Appropriations Committee, and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Senate must then advance its version of the appropriations bill, after which both chambers must approve the legislation, resolve any differences, and send a final bill to the President for signature before the end of the current fiscal year on September 30.
Monica Engebretson, our Head of Public Affairs in North America, said, “The inclusion of this language in the FY27 Appropriations bill is an important step in accelerating the transition to modern, human-relevant science. While this directive would help strengthen NIH’s efforts to support non-animal research methods, lasting change will require passage of the HEARTS Act. The HEARTS Act would help ensure that researchers actively evaluate and use available non-animal methods, reducing reliance on outdated animal experiments while making better use of taxpayer dollars.”
U.S. residents can help advance the HEARTS Act by contacting their Representative and asking them to become a cosponsor of the bill.
