1. Short Title This Act may be cited as the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research Act of 2023 or the AFTER Act of 2023 . 2. Placement of animals used in federal research (a) In general Section 14 of the Animal Welfare Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2144 ) is amended to read as follows: 14. Standards for Federal facilities (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Animal rescue organization The term animal rescue organization means a nonprofit organization the purpose of which is to rescue covered animals and find permanent adoptive homes for those animals. (2) Animal sanctuary The term animal sanctuary means a nonprofit organization that— (A) is registered with the Secretary; (B) operates a place of refuge in which— (i) a covered animal is provided care for the lifetime of the animal; and (ii) an unescorted public visitation of that animal is not permitted; (C) does not engage in commercial trade of covered animals; (D) does not breed covered animals; (E) does not permit direct contact between the public and covered animals; (F) does not allow the use of a covered animal for performance or exhibition purposes; and (G) does not conduct or permit research on a covered animal other than noninvasive behavioral research. (3) Animal shelter The term animal shelter means a facility that— (A) accepts or seizes covered animals— (i) to care for the animals; (ii) to place those animals in a permanent adoptive home; or (iii) for purposes of law enforcement; and (B) does not— (i) engage in commercial trade of covered animals; (ii) breed covered animals; (iii) allow the use of a covered animal for performance or exhibition purposes; or (iv) conduct or permit research on a covered animal other than noninvasive behavioral research. (4) Covered animal (A) In general The term covered animal means an animal that is unwanted, abandoned, or otherwise in need of placement in a home. (B) Exclusions The term covered animal does not include— (i) a rat of the genus Rattus