Very Cool Letter

[Charis]

March 12, 2009


Dear Ms. Palmer,

Thank you for writing me regarding H.R. 5852, "The Great Ape Protection Act". This legislation would end the use of chimpanzees in medical research and retires those currently in federally-owned medical laboratories to permanent sanctuaries.

The decision to continue to use animals such as Apes in medical research is difficult both for the medical and moral concerns. I have consistently supported legislation that requires that animals not be used in research, when other research options are available. I was a co-sponsor of the ICCVAM Authorization Act (Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Method), legislation that established, wherever feasible, guidelines, recommendations, and regulations that promote the regulatory acceptance of new and revised toxicological tests that protect human and animal health and the environment while reducing, refining, or replacing animal tests and ensuring human safety and product effectiveness. It is important to continue to reduce and replace animal tests whenever possible, while still ensuring continued safety and effectiveness of our medicine.

I'm proud to be a member of the Congressional Friends of Animals. I am a strong supporter of the Endangered Species Act and am committed to protecting both domestic and wild animals from harm. I was voted Humane Society Legislator of the Year, reflecting my strong support for legislative initiatives for animals, from banning steel jaw leg hold traps, to ending the suffering of downed animals, to preventing the cruel and inhumane practice of dog and cockfighting.

Thank you again for writing with your thoughts on animal testing and the use of Great Apes. I will follow this legislation closely and keep your thoughts in mind should it come up for a vote on the House floor.


Sincerely,
Earl Blumenauer
Member of Congress

[Trees Gray]

Cool!!!

Thanks for sharing the letter with us.

[spirit wings]

That is a very positive letter. The great apes being used in this way and even for rich folks pets make me want to throw up. I saw a film on pbs about apes that were saved and taken to a sanctuary, some had never even touched earth or grass...it was very moving. I cried through the whole film and I'm not one to do that easily. I wanted to win the lotto and buy land and give it to those folks for all those apes that need a place in the outdoors to live out the rest of their days. how can they look in those faces and just keep doing those horrid things to them, and the cages! my head wants to explode when I think about it.

[LUCKYT]

Well done Charis! It sounds like you wrote a great letter! I have always hated the thought of Primates in Labs or even as pets. Even as a Grade School Child, i could see the damage being done by the lack of the presence of there own kind when kept as Pets. I grew up hanging around "Pet shops" in the late 60's . Any body that is sensitive, could feel the misery of the Squirrel, Wooley, Spider, and Capuchin monkeys. shoved in cages. NO person can take place of a Troop of family members. using them in Labs, is ungodly.
Chimpanzees, are, what is it? made up of something like 98% of our own genetic code. It is akin to torturing a cousin. Dave

[Crazy Pete]

Thanks for sharing the letter with us, it is so sad for all those unlucky critters to be kept in a small cage thier whole life. Very well put LUCKYT
Dave

[sasha008]

Very nice! Congressman Blumenauer sounds like great guy! We need more people like that in government.

[maryjane]

That is a very cool letter to get, especially about such an important issue. Great job, Charis.

[TerriB]

Very nice response! Goes to show the impact each of us can make in presenting our opinions.

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by TerriB

Very nice response! Goes to show the impact each of us can make in presenting our opinions.

I agree. And the more of us that do write letters, the more impact it would have. Good job Charis. Nice to see people who actually do something, rather than just talking about it. Thanks for sharing it with us.