Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of H.R. 3514, the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection Act. I say reluctant because this bill is still not supported by the Administration, which has raised a number of concerns. I include with my statement a letter to me from Dr. Ruth Kirschstein, Principal Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH).

H.R. 3514, which is clearly well intended, will consume millions of dollars of funding from the Health and Human Services’ (HHS) budget to establish and maintain a sanctuary system for the lifetime care of chimpanzees that have been used, bred for, or purchased for research conducted or supported by the NIH, the Food and Drug Administration, or other agencies of the Federal Government. H.R. 3514 has the support of many of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle.

Many of these surplus chimpanzees have hepatitis and HIV infections, and are a danger to uninfected animals, as well as to their caretakers. This bill establishes how the sanctuaries will be administered and operated through a partnership with a private, non-profit entity, that includes the highest level of veterinary expertise. It also sets forth guidelines for the care of these animals and the limited conditions under which they can be returned to research. Whether chimpanzees not used in Federally-funded research should be accepted into the sanctuaries is somewhat controversial, but it is permissible under this bill.

Beyond the humane intentions of this bill on behalf of these surplus chimpanzees, I am concerned about the message we are sending to the American people about our priorities in the waning days of the 106^th Congress. Many important public health issues before this Congress languish. These include: enactment of a real Patients’ Bill of Rights; restoration of federal jurisdiction to control tobacco use by America’s children; access to prescription drugs for senior citizens; long-term care for the elderly; access for America’s children with rare or serious health problems to pediatric specialists, medications and clinical trials; adequate protection for human research subjects; protection from genetic discrimination by health insurers and employers; and enhanced protection of confidential medical records.

Providing chimpanzees with housing in a protected environment that is sensitive to their social needs, along with long-term health care and medications, is all well and good for the chimps. However, America’s human citizens also deserve these benefits. It is time for this Congress to examine the public health policies it is legislating for animals, such as the comprehensive facilities for the one-to-two thousand surplus chimpanzees that are covered by H.R. 3514, and use them as models for caring for our most valued resource, America’s human citizens.

I respect the valuable contribution to science made by our evolutionary forebears. The majority has given new meaning to the notion of incremental reform. Perhaps we can do for humans in the 107^th Congress what we will do for chimps in the 106^th.