Rep. Mace Re-Introduces “Violet’s Law” to Retire Animals From Government Labs

Tens of thousands of regulated animals are used annually in federal labs for projects ranging from observational studies to invasive disease experiments. In most cases, even healthy animals are euthanized when they are no longer needed by researchers.

In recent years, however, the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Defense have enacted lab animal retirement policies. As a result, the agencies have adopted out dogs, cats, and other animals and relocated primates to sanctuaries.

However, the USDA, CDC, and other agencies that conduct animal experiments do not have such policies.

Violet’s Law will ensure that all federal agencies have policies in place to allow and facilitate the relocation of healthy lab animals to private homes, animal rescues, or reputable sanctuaries whenever possible.

Last Congress, the bill had 116 bipartisan cosponsors in the House. A Senate companion had 19 cosponsors and was recently re-introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Gary Peters (D-MI).

“It’s cruel and unnecessary to euthanize dogs, cats, and other animals in federal research labs which are healthy enough to be adopted out and live happy lives,” said Rep. Mace. “We are leading this commonsense, bipartisan effort to ensure that federal agencies can retire and re-home animals no longer needed in taxpayer-funded research whenever possible.”