On Thursday, July 15, the House Appropriations Committee approved language supported by CAARE to promote a National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research under NIH, focused on developing, promoting and funding human-relevant, non-animal methods of research, and to develop a plan for reducing numbers of animals. Also included was language to require NIH to disclose numbers of animals used in federally funded experiments.

This is an important step for reducing and replacing animals in experiments and will help to advance passage of the Humane Research & Testing Act. (H.R. 1744)

CAARE is grateful to Representatives Chris Pappas (D- NH) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and the Appropriations Committee for leading this effort for the FY22 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill.

CAARE is now speaking with members of the Senate to support this language when it comes up for consideration in their version of the FY22 Labor Health and Human Services bill in the coming weeks.

This is a significant boost for our work to pass the Humane Research & Testing Act (HRTA) to establish a dedicated center under NIH to fund and promote alternatives to animals in experiments. The HRTA will also require NIH to release numbers of animals used in research and develop an ongoing plan to reduce them.

The 2022 Appropriations budget also included language to request that NIH assemble a panel to review and recommend greater reliance on human-relevant non-animal methods.

CAARE’s ongoing efforts over the past five years to inform Congress about availability of superior alternatives to replace flawed animal experiments is helping move this vital agenda forward.

There’s still much more work to be done, but this was an important step forward in reducing and ultimately replacing animals in biomedical and scientific research.

If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to contact your representatives in Congress to support the HRTA. Thank you for signing and sending your letter today.

Citizens for Alternatives to Animal Research (CAARE), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, established to highlight and promote research without animals.

Please donate to support CAARE’s mission to reduce animal suffering by disseminating information about the power and progress of research without animals.