Years of Service: 2015-Present
Tenure: 114th – 119th Congresses
Rep. Buddy Carter, defeated in a competitive Republican primary for U.S. Senate, has assembled one of the more consequential animal protection records among House Republicans, particularly in the area of animal-testing reform. Although his voting record on several wildlife and agricultural issues has often aligned himself with the majority of the Republican lawmakers serving in the House, Carter has repeatedly demonstrated meaningful leadership on efforts to modernize biomedical research and reduce reliance on animal experimentation.
Carter is the original sponsor and principal House champion of FDA Modernization Act 3.0, landmark legislation designed to accelerate the adoption of scientifically advanced, human-relevant research methods and reduce reliance on animal testing. The legislation builds on earlier reforms by encouraging the Food and Drug Administration to incorporate new technologies, including organoids, computational modeling, and other nonanimal testing methods into the drug development process. Carter’s leadership on this issue has made him one of Congress’s most important advocates for replacing animal experimentation with modern scientific alternatives.
Rep. Carter was also one of the most important cosponsors and active voices for the enactment of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 in the 117th Congress. That measure was signed into law by President Biden at the end of 2022, and it remains the single most important animal-testing related policies ever enacted.
Carter has also demonstrated a broader commitment to animal protection issues. He is a sponsor of the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act, legislation designed to strengthen federal authorities’ ability to investigate and prosecute serious acts of animal cruelty. In addition, he is a cosponsor of H.J.Res. 111, the Congressional Review Act resolution seeking to overturn the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Barred Owl Management Strategy. He also signed the bipartisan congressional letter urging the Department of the Interior to reconsider the federal barred owl kill plan.
On farm-animal welfare issues, Carter signed the Republican congressional letter opposing the EATS Act, aligning himself with efforts to preserve state authority to establish humane treatment standards for farm animals. His support for the anti-EATS effort distinguishes him from many members of his conference.
Carter has further supported efforts to reduce the use of animals in federally funded biomedical research. He signed the congressional letter supporting the redirection of federal resources away from non-human primate research centers and toward more ethical and scientifically advanced research methods.
At the same time, Carter’s voting record on several benchmark animal protection issues has been less favorable. He voted for H.R. 556, restricting federal agencies’ ability to regulate lead ammunition and lead fishing tackle on federal lands and waters. He voted for the Moore Amendment, which sought to create an exemption from the federal prohibition on commercial greyhound racing, and he voted for the Greene Amendment restricting federal support for cultivated meat and alternative protein technologies. Carter also supported the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, including provisions that would have preempted state farm-animal welfare laws such as California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3 – contradicting his signing of a letter opposing that provision. Many other Republicans opposing those provisions nevertheless voted for the broader Farm Bill package, due to lobbying from the Farm Bureau and other big agriculture interests.
Notably, Carter did not vote on H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. That bill sought to wipe out federal protections for gray wolves across their range in the Upper Midwest and the West.
What distinguishes Carter from many members of his conference is the depth of his affirmative engagement. Few Republicans have assembled a portfolio that includes leadership on animal-testing reform, anti-cruelty legislation, opposition to EATS, and advocacy on behalf of barred owls. His role as a leader of both the FDA Modernization Act, FDAMA 2.0, and then FDAMA 3.0 represents one of the most significant contributions by any Republican to animal protection policy in recent Congresses.
Taken as a whole, Carter’s record places him in the Strong Leader category. His leadership on FDA Modernization Act 3.0, sponsorship of the ACE Act, opposition to EATS, advocacy on behalf of barred owls, and efforts to reduce primate testing demonstrate meaningful and sustained engagement on animal protection issues, even though his voting record contains several significant negatives.
Read our endorsement letter here.
Notable Actions
119th Congress
✅ Lead sponsor and principal House champion of FDA Modernization Act 3.0.
✅ Cosponsor of the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act.
✅ Cosponsor of H.J.Res. 111,opposing the federal barred owl kill plan.
✅ Signed the bipartisan congressional letter opposing the large-scale killing of barred owls.
✅ Signed the Republican congressional letter opposing the EATS Act.
✅ Signed the congressional letter supporting the transition away from non-human primate research.
❌ Voted “Aye” H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (House Roll Call Vote 93), to prohibit federal land management agencies from restricting the use of toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle on public lands and waters to protect wildlife from poisoning. The bill passed the House 215–202. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal vote.
➖ Did Not Vote on H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act(House Roll Call Vote 360), to remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves across much of the United States and restricted judicial review of future wolf management decisions. The bill passed the House 211–204. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
❌ Voted “Aye” on the Riley Moore Amendment to H.R. 7567 (House Roll Call Vote 149), to weaken the Farm Bill’s Greyhound Protection Act provisions by creating a special exemption allowing commercial greyhound racing to continue in West Virginia indefinitely. The House rejected the amendment 237–178. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
❌ Voted “Aye” H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act (House Roll Call Vote 151), to pass the Farm Bill, which included a provision to overturn state laws in California and Massachusetts restricting in-state sales of fresh pork sourced from farms that do not provide minimum space requirements for the housing of pregnant pigs. The bill passed the House 224–200. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
118th Congress
❌ Voted “YAY” on H.R. 615 (House Roll Call Vote 167), legislation to bar the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture from prohibiting or regulating the use of toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands and waters made available for hunting or fishing. Lead ammunition and tackle poison wildlife, including eagles, loons, condors, and other animals that ingest spent lead fragments or lost fishing gear. The House passed the bill 214–201. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
❌ Voted “YAY” on H.R. 764 (House Roll Call Vote 169), legislation to remove federal protections for gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act across most of the United States and return management authority to the states. Wildlife advocates warned that the bill would undermine science-based wildlife management and threaten the long-term recovery of gray wolf populations. The House passed the bill 209–205. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
117th Congress
✅ Voted “Aye” on the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (House Roll Call Vote 478), legislation to strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and finally end the cruel practice of “soring” Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses. Soring involves intentionally inflicting severe pain on horses’ legs and hooves through caustic chemicals, chains, pressure devices, or other abusive methods to force an exaggerated, high-stepping gait known as the “Big Lick.” The House passed the bill 333–96. An “Aye” vote is the pro-animal position.
116th Congress
✅ Voted “Aye” on the Big Cat Public Safety Act (House Roll Call Vote 478), legislation to prohibit private ownership and breeding of lions, tigers, and other big cats while restricting public contact with these dangerous wild animals. The bill was designed to curb the exploitation of big cats in roadside zoos and cub-petting operations, improve animal welfare, and enhance public safety by limiting private possession of these species. The House passed the bill 272–114. An “Aye” vote is the pro-animal position.