Cold-blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act

HR 2976 expands the definition of "animal" under the Animal Welfare Act to explicitly include cold-blooded species like reptiles, amphibians, cephalopods (e.g., octopuses), and fish used in research, testing, experimentation, or exhibition. This change directly affects research facilities, zoos, and aquariums that work with these animals, bringing them under the Act's existing protections. The bill amends the law to add cold-blooded animals to the covered categories while maintaining exemptions for research rats/mice, horses not used in research, and farmed animals raised for food or fiber. It does not create new requirements but ensures these animals are subject to the same welfare standards already applied to warm-blooded animals like dogs and cats.