May 28, 2026
FROM REP. NICK LANGWORTHY: Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) are leading a bipartisan letter signed by 34 House members urging Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to strengthen National Institutes of Health policy governing eligibility for federal funding tied to animal acquisition for NIH-supported research.
The letter follows serious animal welfare concerns involving Ridglan Farms, a commercial beagle breeding facility in Wisconsin that was cited by the state for hundreds of animal welfare violations in 2025 and later surrendered its state commercial breeding license. Despite those findings, the facility continues to hold a USDA Class A license, which under current NIH policy remains the primary factor used to determine eligibility to supply animals for NIH-funded research.
“We are working on all fronts to end the horrific abuse of dogs and cats for experimentation, and this letter is another step forward toward our goal,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “As the federal government works to reduce unnecessary animal testing and improve standards for federally funded research, we need stronger safeguards to ensure animal welfare violations are fully considered when determining eligibility for NIH-supported programs. The Ridglan Farms case exposed clear gaps in the current system that deserve immediate review.”
In the letter, the members urged the Department of Health and Human Services to modernize NIH policy by considering additional factors beyond whether a breeder holds a USDA Class A license, including state-level enforcement actions, animal welfare citations, or the surrender of state breeding licenses.
“We write to express our concerns regarding current policy at the National Institutes of Health that may unintentionally allow federal funding to continue benefiting facilities engaged in the mistreatment of animals,” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge immediate action to update current policy regarding the use and acquisition of dogs in NIH-supported research.”
The members also pointed to ongoing federal efforts to reduce reliance on animal testing, including the Food and Drug Administration’s 2025 roadmap to phase down mandatory animal testing requirements.
The lawmakers noted that NIH policy regarding the acquisition of dogs for federally funded research has not been substantially updated since 2013, when the agency ended the use of “random-source” dogs in NIH-supported studies. Since then, NIH-funded researchers have primarily relied on USDA Class A licensed breeders.
“HHS should consider additional steps to ensure that a USDA Class A license is not the only factor taken into account when determining whether a breeding facility is eligible to receive NIH funding or provide animals to NIH-supported research projects,” the members concluded. “Reviewing these policies may help ensure federally funded research continues to meet the highest ethical and animal welfare standards.”
The bipartisan letter was signed by Reps. Pocan, Langworthy, Beyer, Carter, Casten, Deluzio, DeSaulnier, Doggett, Escobar, Fitzpatrick, Hayes, Hoyer, Huffman, Jayapal, Johnson, Kennedy, Khanna, Krishnamoorthi, Malliotakis, McCollum, McGovern, Moore, Norton, Quigley, Ramirez, Ross, Salinas, Schakowsky, Titus, Tlaib, Tokuda, Wasserman Schultz, and Watson Coleman.
