In a rare display of bipartisan unity, U.S. representatives from both sides of the aisle have been lauded by a prominent watchdog group for their efforts to halt federal research involving dogs.
The White Coat Waste Project (WCW), a vigilant advocate against wasteful government spending on animal testing, has praised these lawmakers for their commitment to this cause.
Republican Representative Greg Steube of Sarasota has been at the forefront of this movement, advocating for Congress to cut funding for the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) canine-related experiments.
Steube recently presented his Protecting Dogs Subjected to Experiments Act to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, earning him a commendation from WCW. Justin Goodman, WCW Senior Vice President, applauded Steube’s efforts.
WCW took lab survivor Beesly to thank @RogerMarshallMD's team for their outstanding work to stop #Fauci's wasteful testing on puppies & retire dogs from govt labs! #BeagleGate #VioletsLaw
Stop the MONEY. Stop the MADNESS! 🥼🗑 pic.twitter.com/VSq5Or9FXh
— White Coat Waste Project 🥼🗑️ (@WhiteCoatWaste) July 22, 2022
Goodman stated the following, “Our investigations have exposed when it comes to widely opposed government animal testing at home and abroad, the NIH’s reckless spending is the biggest problem. These lawmakers know the solution: Stop the money. Stop the madness!”
Steube’s argument is backed by a WCW investigation that led Congress to pressure Dr. Anthony Fauci to cancel a $2 million project testing a seasonal allergy drug on dogs.
Steube noted Fauci later admitted using dogs was unnecessary and rodents could be used instead. This revelation underscores the need for reform in the way we conduct medical research.
The congressman also cited polling data indicating 73% of Americans want dog-driven experiments to cease. He highlighted the NIH’s annual expenditure of tens of millions of dollars on wasteful and inhumane dog experimentation.
This includes disturbing practices such as injecting dogs with cocaine, cutting out their vocal cords to prevent barking in the lab, and infesting hounds with biting insects.
Steube’s impassioned plea for change was clear: “We don’t need to spend tax dollars on cruel dog experiments to advance science.”
“This legislation will not only save countless dogs from unnecessary suffering but also redirect taxpayer dollars towards more ethical and cost-effective medical research.”
🙏🏼Amen!!! THANK YOU to everyone involved & WCW for ending the US Dept of Vet Affairs experiments on dogs!!! @DeptVetAffairs 🚫testing on DOGS! 🐾 https://t.co/tdQYrmuJOl
— 🗣 My Rights TRUMP Your Feelings 🗣 (@CynPatriotic) November 7, 2022
The WCW also recognized the efforts of Republican Representative Lisa McClain and Democrat Representative Don Davis for their work to defund dangerous animal labs in China and Russia.
McClain received a 2022 WCW Waste Warrior award for her leadership on this issue. Both representatives are co-leading the Accountability in Foreign Animal Research (AFAR) Act, which seeks to ban government funding for animal testing in adversarial nations.
Davis emphasized the importance of this act, stating, “If we learned anything from the pandemic, it is that foreign animal laboratories can be a breeding ground for the most lethal pathogens.”
These lawmakers’ efforts represent a significant step towards ending the cruel and wasteful practice of animal testing. Their bipartisan collaboration serves as a reminder that some issues transcend party lines, uniting us in our shared commitment to the ethical and humane treatment of animals.
