CHIMP Act signed into law.

On October 24, 2000 the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3514 by unanimous consent and the Senate passed H.R. 3514 by unanimous consent on December 6, 2000.  The bill was signed into law by the President on December 20, 2000.

On November 22, 1999 legislation was introduced to enrich the lives of chimpanzees no longer used in medical testing.  Representative James Greenwood (R-PA), joined by 21 Members of Congress, introduced H.R. 3514, the "Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection Act."  The goal of this legislation is to create a congressionally-chartered non-profit retirement sanctuary system for chimpanzees who had been used for experimentation.  This bill had 143 cosponsors.

Senator Bob Smith (R-NH), along with 4 U.S. Senators, introduced the Senate version of, the "Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection Act." S. 2725 on June 13, 2000.  During his introduction of the bill, on the Senate floor, Senator Smith said "This is the humane, ethical, and fiscally responsible way to handle the question of what to do with a surplus of intelligent animals who have contributed to the knowledge of science and the health and well-being of humanity."  This bill had 24 cosponsors.  On September 20, 2000 the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved S. 2725 by a unanimous voice vote.

Currently, there are approximately 1,500 captive chimpanzees in laboratories in the United States, many of whom are no longer being used in biomedical research.   A 1997 report by the National Research Council (NRC) assessed the status of Chimpanzees in Research and Strategies for their Ethical Care, Management, and Use and concluded in part that:

• there is a "moral responsibility" for the long-term care of chimpanzees that are used for our benefit in scientific research;

• there should be a moratorium on further chimpanzee breeding;

• euthanasia as a means of general population control is unacceptable; and

• there is enthusiastic support for the principle of creating a sanctuary which could house these former subjects of experimentation in a manner consistent with high standards of lifetime care, social enrichment and cognitive development.

Commenting on the proposed legislation, Dr. Jane Goodall said: "Never before has there been such a concrete opportunity  to work in cooperation with the scientific community, government officials, and the world's most renowned primate experts to provide chimpanzees who have given so much of themselves to science with a safe, permanent home to live out the remainder of their lives.   This is a crucial time for us in our stewardship to define their future with respect, compassion and justice.  They deserve nothing less."

Congress OKs Plan for Retired Chimps
 - Gretchen Vogel/Science Magazine

House Cosponsors of the 1999 "CHIMP" Act

Senate Cosponsors of 1999 "CHIMP" Act