HUMANE TREATMENT OP ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH 23 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
Washington, D.G., September 27, 1962. 
Hon. Oren Harris, 
Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 
House of Representatives, 
Washington, D.C. 
Dear Mr. Chairman : This is in reply to your request for the views of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration on H.R. 3556, a bill “To provide 
for humane treatment of animals used in experiment and research by recipients 
of grants from the United States, and by agencies and instrumentalities of the 
United States, and for other purposes.” 
The proposed legislation would declare it the policy of the United States that 
animals used in experiments, tests, teaching of scientific methods and techniques, 
and the production of medical and pharmaceutical materials shall be spared 
avoidable pain, stress, discomfort, and fear, that they shall be used only in 
minimum numbers and only when no other feasible and satisfactory method can 
be used to obtain necessary scientific information for the cure of disease, al- 
leviation of suffering, prolongation of life, or for military requirements, and that 
all animals so used shall be comfortably housed, well fed, and humanely treated. 
The Agency for Laboratory Animal Control would be established in the execu- 
tive branch of the Government. It would be headed by a Commissioner of 
Laboratory Animal Control, appointed for 5 years by the President with Senate 
approval. A Commissioner would have to be a member of the bar of the 
Supreme Court of the United States, and must never have been connected with 
any laboratory. 
A certification and qualification system would insure that all use of live 
animals in Government-funded projects would be in accordance with the policy 
of the proposed legislation, which policy would be implemented by regulations 
promulgated by the Commissioner. 
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is in complete accord 
with the statement of policy and the objectives of the proposed legislation. The 
animal colonies operated by or for NASA are subject to professional inspections 
at any time, and must be maintained so as to insure healthy and contented 
animals for research use. 
It is felt that existing State laws and the rules and procedures of the Ameri- 
can Medical Association effectively police and control the great majority of the 
scientific community engaged in research and experiments including use of live 
animals. While the proposed legislation might effectively control the remaining 
small minority of scientists engaged in live animal experiments, we feel that 
this benefit would be far outweighed by the restrictions which it would impose 
on the majority of scientists. Accordingly, the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration would not favor enactment of H.R.. 3556. 
The Bureau of the Budget has advised that it has no objection, from the stand- 
point of the administration’s program, to the submission of this report to the 
Congress. 
Sincerely yours, 
Paul G. Dembling, 
Director, Office of Legislative Affairs. 
Mr. Roberts. The subcommittee is highly honored this morning 
that we have with us the Honorable Maurine B. Neuberger, U.S. 
Senator, who has long shown an interest in health matters, and who 
has shown devotion to humane treatment of animals and has made 
for herself a great record in many fields. 
I know that her time is very valuable and she is due over in the 
Senate very shortly, so I will, without further ado, call Mrs. Neuberger 
as our first witness. 
It is certainly a pleasure to have you here. 
STATEMENT OE HON. MAURINE B. NEUBERGER, A U.S. SENATOR 
EROM THE STATE OE OREGON 
Senator Neuberger. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
I hate to have it sound as if it is so important that I have to come 
on first, but, as you Members of Congress know, we are rushing toward 
adjournment, and votes are coming thick and fast this morning. 
