Current Co-sponsors S. 810, the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act  Sen. Cantwell [WA] (introduced bill) Sen. Akaka [HI]  Sen. Begich [AK]  Sen. Blumenthal [CT]  Sen. Brown [OH]  Sen. Collins [ME]  Sen. Durbin [IL] Sen. Gillibrand [NY]  Sen. Inouye [HI] Sen. Kerry [MA]  Sen. Leahy [VT]  Sen. Lieberman [CT]  Sen. Menendez [NJ]  Sen. Merkley [OR]  Sen. Mikulski [MD] Sen. Reed [RI] Sen. Sanders [VT]  Sen. Udall [NM]

URGENT: Please call and e-mail your senators TODAY

Dear PCRM supporter,

A major development in our efforts to end invasive experiments on chimpanzees has occurred, and we wanted to make sure you knew.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that 110 federally owned chimpanzees (almost one-fifth of the total federal chimpanzee population) will be made ineligible for research. After last year’s Institute of Medicine report that found most chimpanzee research unnecessary, this is a sign that invasive experimentation on chimpanzees may be coming to an end.

But there is a catch. While 10 chimpanzees will be truly retired to Chimp Haven—a Louisiana sanctuary that will allow these animals who have given their lives to research to live out their remaining days in a natural environment—the rest are being sent to Texas Biomedical Research Institute, a laboratory in San Antonio charged with experimenting on chimpanzees and other animals.

This is a true mixed bag—though we are happy that 10 chimpanzees are being permanently removed from research protocols, as the law states, the other 100 chimpanzees should be retired to sanctuary, not a laboratory that has been cited for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

The takeaway is that this decision by NIH underscores just how important it is that we pass the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, which requires all federally owned chimpanzees to be permanently retired to sanctuary. There is very little time left in this legislative session, so it’s important to take action now.

Let your U.S. senators know that you would like them to cosponsor the Great Ape Protection and Cost Saving Act. Please call your senators' offices today to urge them to support this important and urgent bill.

Contact your senator(s) here >

When you call, please use the following talking points:

• As a resident of [state], I am calling to urge Senator [name] to co-sponsor S. 810, the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings act.
• 1,000 chimpanzees are currently suffering in U.S. labs, wasting taxpayer dollars on ineffective medical research.
• A recent report by the Institute of Medicine found that chimpanzee research was not necessary to advance human health.
• The biological and social needs of chimpanzees cannot be met in laboratories.
• Please act to ensure that the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act moves closer to becoming law.

When you have made your call, please also send a personal e-mail and ask your friends and family to do the same—even if you and they have already taken past actions.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Kucinich
Director of Public and Government Affairs