hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Bans most nonhuman primate imports to the United States.
Rep. Steube (R-FL), with bipartisan co-sponsors including Reps. Titus, Malliotakis, and Carson.
Introduced in the House of Representatives.
This bill, known as the PRIMATE Act, would amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to generally prohibit the importation of any live nonhuman primate into the United States. It was introduced by Representative Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, along with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors. The bill has just been introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, meaning it is in the very early stages of the legislative process.
Introduced Apr 23, 2026
This bill is currently in the 'Introduced' stage. It was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 23, 2026, and then referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. For it to move forward, the committee would need to consider it, possibly hold hearings, and then vote to send it to the full House for a vote. If it passes the House, it would then go to the Senate for their consideration.
If this bill becomes law, the importation of most live monkeys and other nonhuman primates into the U.S. would become illegal. There would be a specific exception allowing facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to import primates, but only if they certify the animals will not be used for experiments, testing, or breeding for such purposes. Individuals or entities violating this ban could face civil penalties of up to $50,000 per violation and the imported primates would be seized by the U.S. government.
Supporters Say
Supporters would argue this bill protects public health and animal welfare by stopping the potentially risky importation of primates and their use in certain experiments.
Critics Say
Critics might raise concerns about how a ban could impact scientific research or certain animal facilities not accredited by the AZA.
Those in favor of the bill would likely highlight its stated goal of preventing 'Risky Importation of Monkeys to Avoid Toxic Exposures,' suggesting it is a measure to safeguard public health and potentially improve animal welfare by limiting the use of primates in testing. Opponents could contend that a broad ban, even with an exception for AZA zoos, could hinder crucial scientific and medical research that relies on nonhuman primates, especially for facilities not affiliated with AZA accreditation. The balance between public safety, animal ethics, and scientific advancement would be a key point of discussion.