Tom Lantos: “I welcome House consideration of H.R. 4281, the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000, and I want to take this opportunity to…”

“I welcome House consideration of H.R. 4281, the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000, and I want to take this opportunity to commend my colleague from California, Mr. Calvert, for his work on this important issue and for bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, on March 27, 1996, I introduced H.R. 3173, the Consumer Products Safe Testing Act. This legislation was introduced to promote more humane business practices, increase the efficiency of the Federal Government, encourage scientific innovation and, most importantly, ensure continued consumer safety while eliminating unnecessary and inhumane product safety testing on animals. Today, H.R. 4281, the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000--legislation that is the successor to the bill I originally introduced in early 1996--represents the culmination of efforts which began over 5 years ago. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4281 is a non-partisan, non-controversial bill that emphasizes the protection of both human health and animal welfare by facilitating the development, acceptance and implementation of non-animal product safety tests.”