releases: https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-announces-introduction-of-bill-to-ban-usda-slaughter-of-kittens
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-announces-introduction-of-bill-to-ban-usda-slaughter-of-kittens | Merkley Announces Introduction of Bill to Ban USDA Slaughter of Kittens | 2018-12-20 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Announces Introduction of Bill to Ban USDA Slaughter of Kittens The KITTEN Act would stop USDA practice of killing kittens Thursday, December 20, 2018 WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced the introduction of theKittens In Traumatic Testing Ends Now Act, orKITTEN Act, which would end the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) practice of killing kittens after they're used inagencytesting. In this testing, kittens arefed raw meat infected with parasites, which grow in the kittens and are later harvested for study. But instead of being treated after the study, thekittens are thenkilled. This is an archaic practice and horrific treatment, and we need to end it, Merkley said. TheKITTEN Actwill protect these innocent animals from being needlessly euthanized in government testing, and make sure that they can be adopted by loving families instead. Since 1970, the USDA has spent $650,000 each year to infect and later kill kittens in its Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory in Beltsville, MD. The lab breeds up to 100 kittens per year. Once they're 2 months old, the kittens are fed parasite-infected raw meat. Their fecesare thencollected and parasitic eggs are harvested for use in other experiments. Once the eggs are collected, the 3-month-old kittens are killed and incineratedeven though the kittens couldeasilybe treated and adopted out. The Centers for Disease Control, American Veterinary Medical Association, and Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges say that these kittens are safe to have as pets. That's why Merkley secured language in the Senate Appropriations Committee agricultural bill that urges USDA to consider alternativetesting methods toinfecting and killing kittens. TheKITTEN Actwould fully protect these kittens by requiring that the Secretary of Agriculture end the use of kittens and cats in any USDA experiments thatunnecessarily hurts the animals. A House version of the bill (H.R. 5780) was introduced in June by Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI-08) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), and has 60 other bipartisan cosponsors46 Democrats and 15 Republicansincluding Oregon Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, and Peter DeFazio. Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |