Congresswoman Nancy Mace announced on Apr. 30 that her Violet’s Law amendment was included in the Farm Bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, marking a significant development for animal welfare. The amendment requires all federal agencies with research facilities to create standards for adopting out or placing animals no longer needed for research into non-laboratory settings.
The issue addresses concerns about healthy animals being euthanized after their use in government-funded laboratories. “A healthy animal should never be euthanized when a loving home is waiting. Never,” said Congresswoman Mace. “These labs are putting down dogs, cats, hamsters, and rabbits all on the taxpayer’s dime simply because no one made finding them a home a priority or a requirement. This amendment puts a stop to it. No excuses. These animals deserve a second chance at life, not a death sentence.”
Justin Goodman, Senior Vice President at White Coat Waste, supported the measure: “Rep. Mace’s Violet’s Law amendment to retire and rehome animal lab survivors is more important than ever, and White Coat Waste proudly supported her winning bipartisan effort to include it in the Farm Bill… Taxpayers bought these animals, and Rep. Mace’s Violet’s Law will ensure Uncle Sam gives them back.” John Ramer of Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary also said: “As the nation’s largest and most successful sanctuary for research animals—having successfully placed thousands of cats, dogs, and other animals into loving homes—we applaud Rep. Mace for leading a successful Farm Bill amendment to make lab animal retirement a standard policy in all government labs.”
The new rules amend the Animal Welfare Act by requiring federal agencies operating research facilities to establish standards enabling adoption or placement of eligible retired research animals such as dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits; allow placements with rescue organizations or individuals; require veterinary certification prior to release; and give agencies one year from enactment to comply.
Mace has led efforts in Congress against funding cruel animal research across several federal departments according to official congressional records. She ended certain testing practices at both Veterans’ Affairs and Department of War through recent legislation signed into law last December as reported by the House website.
Mace currently represents South Carolina’s 1st district after replacing Joe Cunningham in 2021 according to congressional sources. She previously served in South Carolina’s state legislature from 2018–2020 as detailed by Ballotpedia. Born in Fort Bragg in 1977 and now residing in Charleston according to biographical information, she graduated from The Citadel with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999.