The Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 2964) was a bill introduced in the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together the ...
by Rep.
Eddie Johnson Edward, Eddie or Ed Johnson may refer to:
Politicians
* Edward Johnson (founder of Woburn, MA) (1598–1672), colonial military officer and writer
* Edward Johnson (mayor) (1767–1829), mayor of Baltimore
*Edward A. Johnson (1860–1944), first A ...
on July 10, 2007. The legislation, had it been enacted, would have modified the
Lacey Act
The Lacey Act of 1900 is a conservation law in the United States that prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold.United States. Lacey Act (Game). , ch. 553. Approved May 25, 1900. ...
Amendments of 1981 to treat nonhuman primates as prohibited wildlife species, allowing exemptions for zoos and research facilities. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives but never received a floor vote in the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and ...
.
The bill was reintroduced by Rep.
Mark Kirk
Mark Steven Kirk (born September 15, 1959) is a retired American politician and attorney who served as a United States senator from Illinois from 2010 to 2017, and as the United States representative for Illinois's 10th congressional district ...
in February 2009 following the widely publicized mauling of
Charla Nash
Travis (October 21, 1995 – February 16, 2009) was a male common chimpanzee who, as an animal actor, appeared in several television shows and commercials, including spots for Coca-Cola, as well as on television programs including ''The Maury P ...
by a pet chimpanzee.
Rep.
Rob Bishop
Robert William Bishop (born July 13, 1951) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2003 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he became the dean of Utah's congressional delegation after the retirement of ...
argued against the bill during the floor debate, noting it would cost $4 million annually and do nothing directly to prevent chimpanzee attacks on humans; he also noted such attacks are relatively rare.
[Peter Urban]
House approves primate pet ban
, ''Connecticut Post'', February 24, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2009. Twenty states and the District of Columbia already had laws banning primates as pets.
, ''USA TODAY'', February 24, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2009. On February 23, the House voted 323 to 95 in favor of the bill. The House version would exempt
monkey helper
Various definitions exist for a service animal. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines the term as "dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities". Dogs are the most common service animals, havi ...
s.
References
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Animal testing
United States proposed federal environmental legislation
United States federal legislation articles without infoboxes
Animal welfare and rights legislation in the United States
Wildlife law in the United States
Proposed legislation of the 109th United States Congress
Proposed legislation of the 110th United States Congress
Proposed legislation of the 111th United States Congress
Proposed legislation of the 112th United States Congress
Proposed legislation of the 113th United States Congress
Proposed legislation of the 114th United States Congress
Proposed legislation of the 116th United States Congress
Proposed legislation of the 117th United States Congress