West Florida News

U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Dina Titus (D-Nev.) are spearheading a bipartisan effort to demand accountability from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) regarding taxpayer-funded experimentation on dogs and cats. In a letter addressed to NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli, Steube and Titus, along with 21 of their colleagues, are seeking information and urging the NIH to support alternatives to harmful animal testing.

The issue of animal testing has garnered bipartisan support, with both Republicans and Democrats expressing their concerns. "On both sides of the political aisle, Americans don't want the government conducting painful, cruel experiments on dogs and cats," stated Rep. Steube. He further emphasized the need to hold the NIH accountable for their failure to curb such experimentation.

Rep. Titus echoed these sentiments, stating, "The National Institute of Health is the single largest funder of inhumane research on dogs and cats and must be held accountable for its actions." She expressed alarm over the NIH's resistance to implementing safe and cost-effective alternatives to animal testing, despite overwhelming evidence and bipartisan support.

The White Coat Waste Project, an organization dedicated to ending wasteful spending on animal experiments, commended the efforts of Reps. Steube and Titus. Justin Goodman, Senior Vice President of the White Coat Waste Project, applauded their demand for answers from the NIH regarding its funding and support for outdated and inhumane experiments on dogs and cats. He emphasized the importance of transparency and taxpayers' right to know how their money is being spent.

The letter addressed to NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli raises several pertinent questions. One of the key concerns is the amount of taxpayer dollars that were used for painful NIH-funded research and testing on dogs and cats in the fiscal year 2023. The representatives are also seeking information on the specific efforts and initiatives undertaken by the NIH to reduce and replace the use of dogs and cats in research. Additionally, they inquire about the NIH's policies regarding the retirement of dogs and cats used in intramural and extramural research.

Rep. Steube has been a staunch advocate for ending cruel animal experiments throughout his career. He sponsored the bipartisan legislation, H.R. 574, also known as the Protecting Dogs Subjected to Experiments Act, which aims to prohibit the NIH from using funding for experiments involving dogs. He has also cosponsored Violet's Law, which seeks to make adoption an option for animals in federal labs when testing concludes. In collaboration with the White Coat Waste Project, Rep. Steube co-authored an op-ed discussing the defunding of wasteful NIH dog experiments. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in defunding Russian animal testing labs, including those involved in kitten experiments.

The issue of animal testing continues to be a matter of concern for lawmakers and the public alike. The bipartisan efforts led by Reps. Steube and Titus reflect the growing demand for accountability and the exploration of alternative testing methods. As taxpayers, Americans have a right to know how their money is being utilized and should not be forced to fund experiments that inflict unnecessary pain and suffering on animals.

To read the full letter addressed to NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli, please visit the provided link.