Bill would restrict HHS animal research tied to certain countries

HHS would be barred from conducting or funding the covered biomedical research and experiments. The named countries are China, including Hong Kong, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The research must involve testing animals with backbones. The conduct ban covers facilities or entities located in, or directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a covered country. The funding ban covers entities based in a covered country and includes grants, contracts, and other funding routes.

The HHS secretary could designate additional countries for the research bans. The same research bans would apply to each additional country. The secretary would consult with the secretaries of State and Defense before deciding that another country is a country of concern. The secretary would send the explanation within 60 days after each designation.