[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 199 (Friday, December 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CHIMP HAVEN IS HOME ACT

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                               speech of

                            HON. JIM McCRERY

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. McCRERY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1916, the 
Chimp Haven is Home Act. S. 1916 is companion legislation to a bill I 
introduced with Congressman Melancon, H.R. 3295. In 2000, President 
Clinton signed into law the ``Chimpanzee Health Improvement, 
Maintenance and Protection Act''--otherwise known as the CHIMP Act. The 
CHIMP Act provided for the establishment and operation of a system to 
provide lifetime care to chimpanzees that were used, or were bred or 
purchased for use, in research conducted or supported by the Federal 
Government AND who are no longer needed for such research. The system 
envisioned by the CHIMP Act is now a reality in Keithville, Louisiana. 
It is called Chimp Haven.
  Chimp Haven is now home to 123 chimpanzees. As a relatively new 
organization, Chimp Haven faces the challenge of raising money from the 
private sector. This challenge has been heightened due to concerns that 
the CHIMP Act theoretically permits chimpanzees to be removed from 
Chimp Haven and used for medical research. Private financial support is 
important for Chimp Haven because the CHIMP Act requires the 501(c)(3) 
to obtain significant matching funds for its operating and construction 
costs.
  This legislation removes the ``return to medical research clause'' 
from the law and will give everyone involved with Chimp Haven peace of 
mind because the chimpanzees will be able to grow old peacefully in 
their new home and they cannot be removed for research purposes. The 
legislation will not adversely affect human health research, as these 
chimpanzees were deemed unfit for further experimentation. The resident 
chimpanzees at Chimp Haven are currently able to be studied in a non-
invasive manner and S. 1916 will not change that ability.
  The chimpanzees at Chimp Haven have spent their lives in research 
laboratories helping to improve the lives of all Americans. Many of our 
discoveries in space and medicine are due to chimpanzees. I am proud to 
help modify the existing law to ensure chimpanzees at Chimp Haven will 
spend their final years happily.

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