[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 30, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5199-S5200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Peters, Ms. McSally, and Mrs. 
        Shaheen):
  S. 2322. A bill to amend the Animal Welfare Act to allow for the 
retirement of certain animals used in Federal research; to the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague from 
Michigan, Senator Peters, in introducing the Animal Freedom from 
Testing, Experiments, and Research Act, known as the AFTER Act, to 
promote the adoption or retirement of animals used for research at 
Federal agencies. I would also like to thank Senators Shaheen and 
McSally who are original cosponsors of this legislation.
  In fiscal year 2018, the Federal government experimented on 
approximately 50,000 animals for research purposes. The experiments 
occurred across twelve different Federal agencies and the animals used 
were mainly cats, dogs, monkeys, and rabbits. While tracking these 
animals following experimentation is challenging, once animals are no 
longer needed for research, they are often killed, since many agencies 
lack formal retirement or adoption policies. With that said, recent 
studies indicate that research animals who are adopted often thrive in 
their new environments.
  In 2013, led by Senators Harkin, Alexander, Cantwell and myself, the 
Senate passed the CHIMP Act, which allowed for the retirement of 
hundreds of primates that were formerly being used in National 
Institute of Health (NIH) experiments. In addition, the Departments of 
Defense, Veteran Affairs, and NIH recently enacted successful animal 
retirement policies. While I am encouraged by the Senate's past work on 
primates and the recent policies developed by a few agencies; there are 
still many Federal agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, 
Interior, Commerce, NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency that lack 
formal policies for animals that have been used in experiments.
  The AFTER Act builds on successful policies at DOD, VA, and NIH by 
directing all Federal agencies to promulgate regulations that would 
facilitate the retirement of laboratory animals. The bill provides 
flexibility for each agency to devise its own policy, with the goal of 
ensuring that such animals, whenever possible, are retired and not 
killed. Additionally, the AFTER Act requires animals to be evaluated by 
a licensed veterinarian and pronounced both mentally and physically 
healthy before leaving an agency. This will help ensure a smooth 
transition to a new environment.
  Our legislation also encourages Federal agencies to work with non-
profit organizations to ensure retired animals are distributid to 
sanctuaries and shelters across the Nation, not just those closest to 
the research facility. This would allow a State like Maine, which does 
not have Federal research labs that use animals, to play a role in 
retiring these animals and providing homes for them.
  Mr. President, there is no reason animals that are suitable for 
adoption or retirement should be killed by our Federal government. The 
AFTER Act would provide the necessary direction Federal agencies need 
in order to move forward with developing retirement policies. I urge 
all of my colleagues to join in support of this important bipartisan 
legislation, the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research 
Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN:
  S. 2340. A bill to establish the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture 
National Historical Park in the States of Illinois and Missouri, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2340

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Cahokia Mounds Mississippian 
     Culture National Historical Park Act''.

     SEC. 2. CAHOKIA MOUNDS MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE NATIONAL 
                   HISTORICAL PARK, ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Historical park.--The term ``historical park'' means 
     the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical 
     Park established by subsection (b).
       (2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Cahokia 
     Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical Park, 
     Boundary'', numbered CMMC-NHP-107, and dated 05-31-2019.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (4) States.--The term ``States'' means the States of 
     Illinois and Missouri.
       (b) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in order to 
     preserve and interpret for the benefit of present and future 
     generations the historical, cultural, and natural resources 
     associated with the life of the Mississippian Culture, there 
     is established, as a unit of the National Park System, the 
     Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical Park 
     in--
       (A) Collinsville, Illinois;
       (B) Monroe, Madison, and St. Clair Counties, Illinois; and

[[Page S5200]]

       (C) St. Louis City County, Missouri.
       (2) Determination by secretary.--The historical park shall 
     not be established until the date on which the Secretary 
     determines that a sufficient quantity of land, or interests 
     in land, has been acquired in accordance with subsection (d) 
     to constitute a manageable unit.
       (3) Availability of map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (c) Boundary.--The boundary of the historical park shall be 
     the boundary as depicted on the map.
       (d) Land Acquisition.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
     may acquire land and interests in land within the boundary of 
     the historical park by--
       (A) donation;
       (B) purchase from a willing seller with donated or 
     appropriated funds; or
       (C) exchange.
       (2) Limitation.--Any land owned by the States or a 
     political subdivision of 1 of the States may be acquired only 
     by donation.
       (3) Notice.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which 
     the Secretary acquires sufficient land under this subsection 
     to achieve compliance with subsection (b)(2), the Secretary 
     shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the 
     establishment of the historical park.
       (e) Administration.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the 
     historical park in accordance with--
       (A) this section; and
       (B) the laws generally applicable to units of the National 
     Park System, including--
       (i) sections 100101(a), 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 
     102101 of title 54, United States Code; and
       (ii) chapters 1003 and 3201 of title 54, United States 
     Code.
       (2) Cooperative agreements.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative 
     agreements with the States and political subdivisions of the 
     States, institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
     organizations, Indian Tribes, and individuals--
       (i) to identify, interpret, and restore nationally 
     significant historical or cultural and natural resources 
     relating to the life of the Mississippian Culture within the 
     boundaries of the historical park, subject to the condition 
     that such an agreement shall provide for reasonable public 
     access; and
       (ii) to conduct research relating to the Mississippian 
     Culture.
       (B) Cost-sharing.--
       (i) Federal share.--The Federal share of the total cost of 
     any activity carried out under this paragraph shall be not 
     more than 50 percent.
       (ii) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of 
     the cost of carrying out an activity under this paragraph may 
     be in the form of--

       (I) in-kind contributions; or
       (II) goods or services fairly valued.

       (f) General Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this section, the 
     Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the 
     historical park in accordance with section 100502 of title 
     54, United States Code.
       (2) Consultation.--In preparing the general management plan 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with--
       (A) the States and appropriate political subdivisions of 
     the States;
       (B) institutions of higher education;
       (C) nonprofit organizations;
       (D) Indian Tribes; and
       (E) other affected individuals and entities, including--
       (i) the Illinois Department of Natural Resources;
       (ii) the Osage Tribe; and
       (iii) the HeartLands Conservancy.

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