R&R Summer eNews

Summer eNews NEAVS/Project R&R on Capitol Hill Following the reintroduction of the Great Ape Protection Act (H.R. 1326), NEAVS/Project R&R joined Fauna Foundation, Chimp Haven, and HSUS for a Congressional briefing (June 25th), which brought the plight of chimpanzees in U.S. labs front and center to Capitol Hill. The panel included two of the bill’s lead sponsors, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and Ashley Wilson on behalf of Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY). The presentations made their mark, resulting in an increase in cosponsors. Read more... Hollywood Stars Support Great Ape Protection Act The stars are shining for the Great Ape Protection Act (H.R. 1326) thanks to Hollywood's elite, who are signing Project R&R’s petitions and getting active! Most recently, Bones star Emily Deschanel personally wrote a letter to Rep. Waxman – chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where the bill sits – and asked him to support the bill. A sincere THANK YOU to Ms. Deschanel and other celebrities who are using their public voice to help end research on chimpanzees! As of today, 61 representatives have signed onto the Great Ape Protection Act as cosponsors! Project R&R remains committed to the immediate release of all the elders to sanctuary. Project R&R Advisory Board Requests Immediate Release of Elders June's eAlert, sent to coincide with Wenka's 55th birthday, generated much interest in her well-being. Thank you to everyone who wrote to Emory University President Dr. James W. Wagner, expressing your concern for Wenka and the other elder chimpanzees, many of whom have been in a lab for more than 40 years. As promised, Project R&R’s Advisory Board is following with a letter to Dr. Wagner requesting their immediate release from Yerkes National Primate Research Center, part of Emory. Thank you to our Advisory Board, including prominent chimpanzee experts Gloria Grow, Dr. Jane Goodall, Deborah and Dr. Roger Fouts, Jennifer Feuerstein, April Truitt, Mike Seres, and others, for their support! Project R&R will deliver the petition to key U.S. legislators and other policy makers. Scientists Petition Launched Project R&R’s scientists online petition has launched! The petition asks members of the scientific and academic communities to voice their support for ending the use of chimpanzees for biomedical research and testing in the U.S. and providing them permanent retirement in sanctuary. If you are an MD, DO, DVM, DDS, DMD, RN, PsyD, PhD, EdD, etc., please sign on to this petition - and thank you for passing it along to colleagues asking them to do the same. NEAVS Advocates for Public Disclosure of Government Funds In July, NEAVS submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding proposed revisions to their “Financial Conflict of Interest” regulations for scientific research. The purpose of the regulations is to encourage objective, responsible, and transparent publicly funded research. NEAVS’ recommendations included expanding the definition of financial conflict of interest, disclosure requirements, and accountability; reporting financial conflicts of interests; and the nature of such conflicts. The revisions would enhance public disclosure and accountability from federal agencies and those receiving federal dollars. TAKE ACTION End Live Animal Use at Texas Tech Although over 90% of U.S. medical schools no longer use live animals for teaching purposes, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center continues to use live cats for medical training. Despite the availability of non-animal alternatives like CPR training manikins or other human-like simulators (used in training by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association and others), Texas Tech purchases lost and homeless cats from Odessa Animal Control to use in intubation training. The cats are then killed afterwards. Contact Texas Tech and ask for an end to live animal training labs. Ask them to replace them with non-animal alternatives, such as human-like manikins and simulators. John C. Baldwin, M.D. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE -- HSC 3601 4th Street Stop 6258 Lubbock, TX 79430 ph: 806-743-2900 email: john.baldwin@ttuhsc.edu