H.R. 9319 explained · 119th Congress · Pending in Congress
Keeping Pets and Families Together Act
Cosponsors: 2 (2 D, 0 R) · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-14
Introduced: 2026-06-15
Latest action (2026-06-15): Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
What H.R. 9319 does, in plain terms
The Congressional Research Service has not published a summary of H.R. 9319 yet. Its official title: “Keeping Pets and Families Together Act”.
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The Framers
“Founders’ Verdict”
Confidence 0.75
Archived SI output (machine-generated)No editorial review recorded. This historical SI verdict was machine-generated by software and predates the review desk; check it against the official bill text.
Synthesis
The bill is conditionally constitutional, with the decisive condition being that the federal cooperative agreements remain voluntary, do not coerce or commandeer state resources, and maintain a clear jurisdictional nexus to interstate commerce. Hamilton and Marshall support broad constitutionality under the Commerce Clause and Necessary and Proper Clause, provided the scope is not exceeded. Madison approves only if the bill strictly adheres to enumerated powers and voluntary cooperation. Jefferson dissents, arguing the bill exceeds federal authority under the Tenth Amendment and may implicate the Fourth Amendment.
This bill operates within the commerce power and the general welfare clause. The regulation of animal shelters and pet microchipping falls under Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce in animals and pet-related products (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). Additionally, cooperative agreements with states (entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture) align with the cooperative federalism principles permitted under the Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2) and do not exceed the enumerated powers. Federalist No. 23 supports the necessity of federal authority to execute such measures…
This bill proposes to extend federal authority into a matter of local police power—the regulation of animal shelters and the microchipping of domestic pets. The Tenth Amendment reserves to the states and the people all powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution. The Animal Welfare Act, while intended to prevent cruelty in interstate commerce, should not be stretched to encompass cooperative agreements for microchipping that do not directly involve interstate commerce or federal property. Such a measure would set a dangerous precedent of federal superintendence over purely in…
This bill proposes federal cooperative agreements for microchipping dogs and cats in shelters. The Animal Welfare Act is an exercise of Congress's power under the Commerce Clause, as animal shelters and the sale of pets affect interstate commerce. However, the Constitution limits federal power to enumerated ends. If the Secretary's agreements involve only voluntary state or local participation and do not commandeer state resources, they may be permissible. But if the bill coerces states or preempts their police powers without clear connection to interstate commerce, it would exceed federal aut…
The federal regulation of interstate commerce, as established in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), extends to all activity that concerns more than one state. The microchipping of dogs and cats in shelters supports the tracing of animals across state lines, thereby affecting interstate commerce. Additionally, the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) grants Congress the authority to make laws that are appropriate to carry out its enumerated powers. This cooperative agreement with state and local authorities is a suitable means to effectuate the regulation of interstate animal mov…
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What should pass
“VFA SI Solution”
Archived SI output (machine-generated) · No editorial review recorded
This historical draft has no editorial review time on record. Check its claims against the original bill and current law.
Pet Reunification Microchip Grant Act of 2025
Generated by VFA SI Solutions
To increase the rate of microchipping for dogs and cats in animal shelters and similar establishments so that lost pets can be more easily reunited with their owners.
Bipartisan rationale: Honors Democratic priorities: promotes animal welfare, reunites pets with families, and provides federal support for local shelters. Honors Republican priorities: limits federal role to voluntary grants with matching requirements, includes a sunset, avoids new mandates on states or shelters, and offsets spending to reduce the deficit.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 Amendment X
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