Press Releases
Carter bill reducing unnecessary animal testing passes House
Washington,
July 20, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today celebrated the House passage of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, a bill directing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fully implement provisions to reduce unnecessary animal testing for drug development.
Each year in the United States, millions of animals – including an estimated 50,000 dogs – are used in laboratory experiments and testing. This bill would require the FDA to fully implement the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, ensuring that safe and effective treatments are developed using advanced, innovative non-animal testing methods when possible.
“The House passage of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0 marks a major step toward a more modern, effective, and humane system for evaluating medicines,” said Rep. Carter. “My bill will help update testing practices to reduce unnecessary animal harm, remove barriers to innovative, safe, and effective non-animal testing methods, and ensure the FDA’s implementation fully reflects both the law and today’s scientific capabilities.”
“Patients deserve access to the most advanced medical technology available. The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 ensures that drug testing reflects today's innovations, helping to bring promising healthcare to families faster without compromising safety through unnecessary reliance on animal testing,” said Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL). “As the Health Subcommittee Chairman of Ways and Means and the champion of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, I am proud to see my bill's impact be reinforced by this critical piece of legislation.”
"This bill will transform drug development for the 21st century. By requiring full implementation of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, this legislation ensures that developers use innovative, more effective testing methods throughout drug development, rather than relying on outdated and inhumane animal tests. It’s a win for patients, a win for innovation, and a win for animal welfare. I’m proud to champion this bipartisan measure to accelerate safer, more humane, and more effective medical breakthroughs,” said Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA).
“Today’s floor vote is another important step toward modernizing how we bring safe and effective drugs to market,” said Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN). “The FDA has the authority to move beyond outdated, cruel testing methods, and our bill simply directs the FDA to follow through and update its regulations accordingly. I’m proud to work alongside Congressman Buddy Carter and my colleagues to keep this bipartisan effort moving forward.”
"Four years ago, many people believed eliminating the archaic animal testing mandate in federal law was impossible. Today, Congress is completing that work, thanks in considerable part to the incredible leadership of Congressman Buddy Carter," said Wayne Pacelle, President, Center for a Humane Economy, Animal Wellness Action. "FDA Modernization Act 3.0 will help us fix a broken drug development system and stop putting dogs and primates through needless torment."
Read bill text here.
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