Rats, Mice and Birds Amendment
Retained in Farm Bill; Puppy Protection Bill is Dropped
May 3, 2002- The final conference agreement on the
farm aid bill (S.
1731) includes an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jesse Helms
(R-N.C.) that excludes rats, mice, and birds from the definition
of animal under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The amendment
was included in the Senate-passed version of the bill, but
not in the House bill.
The FY 2002 Agriculture Appropriations bill included language
that allows the issuance of a proposed - but not final - rule
on rats, mice and birds during the current fiscal year. The
Helms amendment adds statutory language to the AWA specifying
that rats, mice and birds are not subject to regulations governing
the care of research animals.
The "Puppy Protection Act" (S.
1478), which was also approved by the Senate as an amendment
in the farm bill, was not included in the final conference
bill. Introduced by Sens. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Richard
Durbin (D-Ill.), S.1478 seeks to control so-called "puppy
mills" selling of dogs to the public as pets. However,
some of its provisions would have affected dogs being bred
for research.
The House passed the conference report May 2; The Senate
is expected to approve it May 8.
Information:
Erica Froyd, Director, Public Health and Research Legislative Affairs
AAMC Office of Governmental Relations
efroyd@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
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