South OC Times

U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Don Davis (NC-01) have spearheaded a bipartisan initiative, involving 25 colleagues, to seek information from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin regarding the Department of Defense's (DOD) funding for experiments on dogs and cats. The letter also inquires about efforts to implement more reliable, economical, and humane alternatives.

In recent years, the Department of Veterans Affairs has ceased using dogs and cats in research. Additionally, the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act passed by the House last month includes a bipartisan amendment that cuts funding for DOD research involving these animals.

The letter was co-signed by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Greg Steube (FL-17), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), David Valadao (CA-22), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Mike Waltz (FL-06), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Eleanor Norton (DC), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Hank Johnson (GA-04), John James (MI-10), Dina Titus (NV-01), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) and Brandon Williams(NY -22).

"Animals should be treated with care, not cruelty. There’s no excuse for inhumane testing on dogs and cats on the taxpayer’s dime, especially when alternatives are available," said Rep. Young Kim. "The U.S. government should not fund painful, unnecessary testing on innocent animals, period. I’ll keep holding this administration accountable."

Justin Goodman, Senior Vice President of White Coat Waste Project, commented: "We applaud Reps. Young Kim and Don Davis for their outstanding bipartisan leadership to stop the Pentagon’s pet abuse. White Coat Waste Project’s recent investigations uncovered how the DOD is wasting millions of our money to poison puppies and kill kittens in outdated experiments that are opposed by a supermajority of taxpayers across the political spectrum."

Read the letter HERE.