H.R. 9319: Keeping Pets and Families Together Act

This bill would create a federal program, run by the Secretary of Agriculture, to help state and local governments support microchipping dogs and cats in shelters, pounds, and similar animal-care facilities.

What the program would do

Under the bill, the Agriculture Department would be allowed to make cooperative agreements with state and local governments so that eligible shelters and related organizations can microchip dogs and cats before the animals are:

• returned to their original owner,
• adopted by someone else, or
• transferred to another shelter or rescue organization.

Who could take part

The bill says the program could support:

• shelters or pounds owned and operated by state or local governments, and
• private animal-care organizations, such as humane societies, that work under contract with a state or local government and release animals voluntarily.

Funding

The bill authorizes $5 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the program, but only if Congress later appropriates the money.

Reporting requirement

By December 31, 2030, the Secretary of Agriculture would have to send Congress a report that:

• evaluates how effective the microchipping program has been,
• recommends whether it should be extended for another 5 years, and
• estimates how much funding would be needed to continue it.

Overall effect

In practical terms, the bill would use federal support to encourage more shelter animals to be microchipped, which could make it easier to identify owners and reunite lost pets with families, while also tracking how well the program works.

Relevant Companies

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