[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Peters, and Mrs. Shaheen):
  S. 1378. A bill to amend the Animal Welfare Act to allow for the 
retirement of certain animals used in Federal research, and for other 
purposes; 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 by 
Federal agencies.
  In fiscal year 2019, the Federal government experimented on 
approximately 38,000 animals for research purposes. These experiments 
occurred across fourteen different federal agencies. The animals used 
were mainly cats, dogs, monkeys, and rabbits. Tracking these animals 
following experimentation is challenging. In many instances, animals no 
longer needed for research are killed since many agencies lack formal 
retirement or adoption policies. Recent peer-reviewed studies indicate 
that research animals that are adopted, however, 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 used in National Institute of 
Health (NIH) experiments. In addition, the Departments of Defense, 
Veterans Affairs, FDA, 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 Federal agencies, 
there are many other Federal agencies, including the Agriculture 
Department, NASA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, that lack 
formal policies for animals 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 that animals 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 help place retired animals in sanctuaries and 
shelters across the country, 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, animals that are suitable for adoption or retirement 
should not 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.
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