Senate Judiciary Committee
Examines Animal Rights Tactics
May 21, 2004 - Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch
(R-Utah) convened a hearing May 18 on the extreme measures
taken by animal rights activists against corporations and
academic institutions that use animals in biomedical research.
Stuart Zola, Ph.D., director of the Yerkes National Primate
Research Laboratory at Emory University, testified on behalf
of the National Association of Biomedical Research (NABR)
on the vital role of animal research in fostering medical
advancements in both human and animal health. He noted that
in pursuit of its goal to end biomedical research involving
animals, the animal rights groups have resorted to violent
acts that have drained resources that would have been directed
to research and have depleted human resources by driving young
researchers away from the field.
Also testifying were McGregor Scott, a U.S. attorney in Sacramento;
John E. Lewis, deputy assistant director of the Counterterrorism
Division at the Federal Bureau of Investigation; William Green
of the Chiron Corporation, a biotechnology company; and Jonathan
Blum with Yum! Brands, Inc., the parent company of Kentucky
Fried Chicken. The witnesses discussed the structure and strategy
of the animal rights movement and described various incidents
of harassment affecting their families and employees.
Chairman Hatch asked what legislative and regulatory tools
were needed to combat the threatening acts. Mr. Green proposed
tighter controls by amending the Animal Enterprise Protection
Act, which now only protects research entities, to protect
individual employees from harassment. Mr. Blum asked for consideration
of legislation to eliminate the tax-free status for groups
that promote violent acts, such as People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Information:
Erica Froyd, Director, Public Health and Research Legislative Affairs
AAMC Government Relations
efroyd@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
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