Congressional Bid to Stop Taxpayer-Funded Animal Abuse, Safeguard Farm Animal Welfare Launched by Congressman Cohen and 42 Representatives
Press Release
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a Humane Society "Humane Champion," is leading a delegation of 43 members of Congress in an effort to stop taxpayer-funded animal abuse and inhumane testing at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) in Nebraska. According to a recent New York Times exposé, MARC's profit-motivated research programs have caused great suffering to its animals, which have been subjected to illness, pain, and premature death for decades. Congressman Cohen is also a cosponsor of Representative Earl Blumenauer's AWARE Act, which would close the loophole in the Animal Welfare Act that exempts MARC from adhering to federal animal welfare standards.
"The Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska has been operated at taxpayer expense for the purpose of increasing production and profits for the meat industry, benefits that have been questionable at best, even by many within the meat industry," said Congressman Cohen. "Taxpayer dollars have been used in ways most taxpayers would abhor. Animals have needlessly suffered and died in ways that are unspeakable. We cannot as a government, as a nation, stand idly by and allow this to continue. Our humanity is diminished when we not only allow but actively sanction and financially support such abuse."
The Animal Welfare Act of 1966 was aimed at preventing animal abuse, but exempted farm animals researched for the benefit of the agriculture industry. This loophole has allowed the MARC to continue and expand its research programs, which have virtually no oversight and incredibly lax welfare standards that have already led to the easily preventable starvation of more than 6,500 animals and unnecessary disease and injury to other animals.
"People are becoming more aware and concerned each day about where their food comes from and that meat and other animal products be obtained in a humane manner." Congressman Cohen continued, "42 other members of Congress have joined me in asking Secretary Vilsack to immediately stop the research done at the MARC facility. It is my hope that Secretary will take immediate action."
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