[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S716]
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, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. 
        Hickenlooper, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Warren, Ms. Smith, Mr. Booker, 
        Mr. Warnock, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. King, Mr. Padilla, 
        Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Carper, and 
        Mr. Merkley):
  S. 707. 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 rise with my colleague from Michigan, 
Senator Peters, to introduce 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 2021, the Federal Government experimented on 
approximately 45,000 regulated animals for research purposes. These 
experiments occurred across 14 different Federal Agencies. The animals 
used were mainly cats, dogs, monkeys, and rabbits. Tracking these 
animals following experimentation is challenging. In many instances, 
sadly, 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 Department of Defense DOD, 
Veterans Affairs, VA, Federal Drug Administration, 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, National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, that lack 
formal policies for animals used in experiments.
  The AFTER Act would build 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 would provide 
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 would require 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 would also encourage Federal Agencies to work with 
nonprofit organizations to help place retired animals in sanctuaries 
and shelters across the country, not just those closest to the research 
facility. This would allow 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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