On September 28, 2026, Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced H.R. 10627, the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
The Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act proposes substantial changes to USDA licensing and enforcement under the federal Animal Welfare Act, directly affecting USDA-regulated animal dealers and exhibitors.
Among its provisions, H.R. 10627 would:
- Require dealers and exhibitors to obtain a new USDA license annually, with an unannounced inspection required before renewal.
- Prohibit USDA from issuing licenses to certain applicants found to have violated federal, state or local animal-protection laws.
- Allow licensing decisions to take into account state or local restrictions on the private ownership of certain animals.
- Expand veterinary-care requirements, including annual veterinary visits and physical examinations, vaccinations, parasite treatment and preventive care.
- Require license suspension when qualifying violations present a risk to animal welfare and permanent revocation under specified circumstances involving repeated violations.
- Restrict suspended or revoked licensees from circumventing those sanctions through other individuals or business entities.
- Require USDA to publish searchable, unredacted inspection, investigation, enforcement and animal-inventory records online.
If enacted as written, the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act would significantly change the federal licensing and enforcement framework governing USDA-regulated dealers and exhibitors. The Cavalry Group believes an important question must be asked whenever Congress proposes additional animal welfare laws: Will another layer of federal law actually stop those who are already violating the laws currently in place? Individuals who deliberately neglect or mistreat animals are already subject to existing federal, state and local laws. Creating additional statutory requirements and expanding federal enforcement authority does not guarantee greater compliance by those who disregard the law. It can, however, create additional regulatory burdens for lawful, licensed animal owners and businesses that are already subject to USDA oversight. Rather than continually expanding the federal regulatory framework, Congress and USDA should first ensure that existing laws are enforced consistently, fairly and according to their actual statutory authority. We have laws on the books. Enforce the laws already in place.
At this time, The Cavalry Group has found no evidence that H.R. 10627 has been filed as an amendment to the pending Farm Bill or that congressional leaders have agreed to include it. It is important not to suggest otherwise.
There is, however, an important history that warrants close monitoring.
During consideration of the 2026 House Farm Bill, substantially similar Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act language was proposed as Farm Bill Amendment #18. That history is significant because it demonstrates that Congress has previously considered using the Farm Bill as a legislative vehicle for these proposed changes to Animal Welfare Act licensing and enforcement.
While Amendment #18 was not ultimately adopted, the underlying policy has now returned as the newly introduced standalone H.R. 10627.
There is another important connection.
The House-passed Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, H.R. 7567, already contains Section 12406, “Enhancement of Pet Protections.” That section addresses USDA enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act and requires the Department to evaluate its enforcement standards, education of regulated dealers, enforcement capacity and possible improvements. It also contains additional provisions concerning veterinary care and dogs found in unrelieved suffering during inspections.
In other words, Animal Welfare Act enforcement policy is already part of the House-passed Farm Bill. That makes the introduction of H.R. 10627 particularly important to monitor as the House and Senate continue negotiating their respective Farm Bill provisions.
The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its version of the Farm Bill on September 16, but Senate floor consideration is now expected to wait until after the November 3 midterm elections. Sen. Joni Ernst said last week that she expects consideration to wait until after the election because of the limited remaining Senate calendar. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman has similarly indicated there is insufficient time to bring the legislation to the Senate floor before the election.
That leaves several weeks during which House and Senate lawmakers can continue working through differences between the two bills.
For The Cavalry Group, the facts warrant careful monitoring:
H.R. 10627, the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act, is now formally introduced. Similar Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act language has previously been proposed as Farm Bill Amendment #18. Animal Welfare Act enforcement provisions are already contained in the House-passed Farm Bill. And House and Senate negotiators now have additional time before expected Senate consideration to work through differences between the two bills.
None of this establishes that H.R. 10627 will become part of the Farm Bill.
It does, however, establish why The Cavalry Group will be watching closely for any attempt to incorporate H.R. 10627, portions of the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act, or similar Animal Welfare Act enforcement language into the Farm Bill as negotiations continue.
For USDA-regulated breeders, dealers, exhibitors and other animal businesses, this is legislation that deserves very close attention.
