268 HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH 
Specifically, principle 16 of our ethical standards states : 
The psychologist assumes obligations for the welfare of his research subjects, 
both animal and human — 
and subsection (d) states: 
A psychologist using animals in research adheres to the provisions of the 
rules regarding the use and care of animals for psychological experimentation, 
drawn up by the committee on precautions and standards in animal experi- 
mentation. 
For many years, the association has had an active committee on 
precautions and standards in animal experimentation which has co- 
operated with our colleagues in other disciplines in evolving effective 
safeguards for the use of animals in experimentation in order to as- 
sure every consideration for the health and welfare of such subjects. 
The committee’s present revised statement on standards, which, I 
may say, surpasses the presently proposed legislation in its provision 
for the welfare of animal subjects, is now out for mail ballot approval 
by our governing council of representatives; I shall file copies with 
this committee as soon as it is officially approved. 
In view of the longstanding and continuing concern demonstrated 
by psychologists, as well as our colleagues in other disciplines, for 
the welfare of their animal subjects, combined with our intimate 
knowledge of present practices in laboratories throughout the Nation, 
1 am led to strongly state that there is no compelling evidence for 
the need for the proposed legislation. 
We do, of course, desire to cooperate and assist in any way possible 
in the examination of the facts, and respectfully volunteer the review 
and the services of our relevant committee and our board of scientific 
affairs. 
We are additionally interested in assisting the Congress to frame 
legislation which would provide additional resources for extending 
our present knowledge of the husbandry of experimental animals, for 
disseminating such knowledge, and for the improvement and supple- 
mentation of present facilities for the care and maintenance of labo- 
ratory animals. The Congress in recent years has recognized the im- 
portance of these efforts, and wisely has made initial provision for 
such activities. We urge the extension of such support. 
This, I believe, is the direction in which we must move if we are 
really to achieve our mutual objectives concerning the welfare of 
animals. 
Finally, I wish to call into question the wisdom of the proposed 
legislation without further reference to the issue of need. 
I regret to say that H.R. 3556 is so overwhelmingly ambiguous and 
vague in its statement of performance criteria and requirements and 
so unbelievably specific in section 3 in stipulating total ignorance, as an 
essential administrative qualification— ‘"no person who is or has ever 
been connected with any laboratory shall be eligible for appointment 
as Commissioner” — that I am unable to pursue the matter of this par- 
ticular bill. 
Whereas H.R. 3556 unfortunately is a blunt instrument and one 
capable of massive damage to scientific work, H.R. 1937 is more finely 
honed, suitable to more discriminating but equally disabling applica- 
tion, in its present form. 
