[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PELL:
  S. 1701. A bill to end the use of steel jaw leghold traps on animals 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.


                       steel jaw trap legislation

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
prohibit the use of steel jaw leghold traps in the United States.
  While this bill does not prohibit trapping, it does outlaw a 
particularly savage method of trapping. Anything--wild animals, family 
pets, children--that comes in contact with a leghold trap is subjected 
to its bone-crushing force. Other, more discriminating trapping methods 
exist and should be used.
  I think it is also instructive to note that well over 60 nations 
around the globe including all the nations of the European Community 
have already outlawed the use of this device and have also prohibited 
the sale of fur caught by leghold traps.
  I should make it clear to my colleagues that I oppose the cruel 
treatment of any animal and support efforts to curb the unnecessary use 
of animals for purposes such as medical testing, especially when 
alternative testing procedures are available or when the tests are 
conducted for nonvital reasons and result in inhumane animal treatment. 
I do, however, support the humane use of animals which may provide 
crucial information for life-saving technologies when no other 
alternative testing mechanism exists.

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