Congressman Juan Ciscomani announced on Apr. 21 that he has led a successful initiative to change federal guidance restricting individuals with disabilities from bringing their service dogs into laboratory settings at universities and research facilities.
The change is significant for Americans with disabilities working or studying in the sciences, as previous language had limited their participation and, in some cases, cost them employment opportunities. Ciscomani said, “After meeting with a constituent and working closely together on this issue, it became clear that individuals who rely on service dogs to study or work in laboratories should not face discrimination because of their disabilities.” He added, “Whether due to a lifelong condition or a newly acquired need, no one should be forced to put their career on hold because of unclear or overly restrictive guidance. This commonsense change helps expand access and opportunity in the scientific field.”
The issue was brought forward by Joey Ramp-Adams of Tombstone, who uses her service dog Sampson and has advocated nationally for people with disabilities. Since 2024, Ciscomani has worked to ensure that such individuals are not excluded from STEM fields due to outdated Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) policies.
Ciscomani urged the CDC to update its Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) guidance so that it states: “Animals and plants not associated with the work being performed are not permitted in the laboratory; service dogs may be an exception based on an individualized risk assessment.” The revised guidance clarifies that service animals are protected disability accommodations and reinforces decisions must be based on individualized risk assessments rather than misinterpretations of prior rules.
Ciscomani currently serves as U.S. Representative for Arizona’s 6th district after replacing Ann Kirkpatrick in 2023 according to his biography. He won elections against Kirsten Engel both in 2022—receiving just over half the votes—and again in 2024 as reported by Ballotpedia. Born in Hermosillo, Mexico in 1982, Ciscomani now lives in Tucson according to his profile and graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts degree as detailed by Ballotpedia.
The broader impact could mean greater inclusion for people with disabilities pursuing careers or studies involving laboratory work across scientific fields.
