WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and Congressman Troy Nehls (TX-22) introduced the Stop Wasteful and Outdated Training Act, which prohibits the Department of Justice from conducting or funding inhumane and unnecessary “live tissue training” on animals in medical preparedness courses. During this training, live animals are intentionally, severely injured so staff at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service can practice medical procedures. Any animals that survive the training are then killed.
“Wounding live animals for this training is outdated and unnecessary,” Rep. Dean said. “With the abundance of medical training tools available today, like high tech patient simulators, there is no reason to continue this cruel practice—much less at taxpayer expense. I am grateful Rep. Nehls’ partnership and the bipartisan agreement on the need for humane and effective training for our DOJ employees.”
“As someone who served in law enforcement for nearly 30 years, I know there are better ways to train federal officers to treat human casualties than by mutilating animals,” Congressman Nehls said. “Law enforcement officers deserve to have the best medical training possible. That’s why I’m working with my colleague, Representative Dean, to defund the DOJ’s outdated and inhumane live tissue training on animals in favor of better modern simulators that save money, animals, and patients’ lives.”
Government studies have repeatedly found that high-tech patient simulators that mimic human anatomy are more educationally effective and cost-efficient than crude live tissue training on animals. The Defense Health Agency has stated that live tissue training is “outdated and cost-prohibitive” and that “live tissue training options are not anatomically accurate.” In recent years, the Department of Defense, U.S. Coast Guard and other federal agencies have severely restricted or eliminated live tissue training.
“We applaud Reps. Dean and Nehls for their outstanding work to protect animals and taxpayers by introducing legislation to cut funding for the DOJ's wasteful live tissue training, which White Coat Waste Project exposed involves shooting, stabbing and dismembering live animals,” Justin Goodman, Senior Vice President at White Coat Waste Project said. “A majority of taxpayers—Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike—oppose DOJ’s barbaric live tissue training on animals, and we commend Reps. Dean and Nehls for taking action to end this waste and abuse.”
Following efforts led by Rep. Dean, federal spending bills for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 included language restricting funding for DOJ live tissue training.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
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