White Coat Waste Project’s bipartisan event on Capitol Hill last night to promote Violet’s Law (aka the AFTER Act) proved once again that dogs are the great unifier.

Clockwise L-R: Sen. Joni Ernst’s puppy Blix takes the podium; Rep. Jackie Walorski and Blix; Sidda takes a load off; and Senate AFTER Act lead Sen. Susan Collins’ dog Pepper poses for the camera.

“Hounds on the Hill” was co-hosted by AFTER Act leaders Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Representatives Brendan Boyle (D-PA) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN).

Rep. Walorski–whose congressional district is home to a sanctuary for primates retired from labs— delivered opening remarks in which she called her legislation, which requires federal labs to allow dogs, cats, primates and other animals to be retired when experiments end, a “Hoosier common sense bill.”

Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN)–co-lead of the AFTER Act–delivers opening remarks at WCW’s “Hounds on the Hill” event

Dozens of staffers from Republican and Democratic offices attended WCW’s dog-friendly event in the Senate to learn more about how they can support the AFTER Act and give animals in government labs a second chance. After all, taxpayers bought these animals and they want Uncle Sam to #GiveThemBack.

WCW VP Justin Goodman discusses the AFTER Act, and the progress made so far to retire animals from government labs.

WCW has convinced the National Institutes of Health and Department of Veterans Affairs to implement lab animal retirement policies, but more than 10 other agencies still have not. The AFTER Act would change that.

 

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Blix is ready to answer a few questions from the press.

A post shared by Senator Joni Ernst (@senjoniernst) on Dec 4, 2019 at 2:25pm PST

Tell Congress you support the AFTER Act and want to see animals retired from government labs!