On the heels of a highly publicized attack of a Connecticut woman by a chimpanzee, U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and David Vitter, R-La., introduced the Captive Primate Safety Act (S. 462), which seeks to protect public safety and promote animal welfare by prohibiting interstate commerce of primates for the pet trade. Reps. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives (H.R. 80) that passed 323 to 95.
"We applaud the leadership of Senators Boxer and Vitter in championing this legislation," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The HSUS and president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "Pet primates are ticking time bombs in our communities. Along with the attack risk evident from this incident, primates can spread deadly diseases, and the average pet owner cannot meet their basic needs in captivity."
"The Boxer-Vitter Captive Primate Safety Act would prohibit the transportation of primates across state lines for the pet trade. Passage of this bill is long overdue," said Sen. Boxer.
"The Captive Primate Safety Act is needed to complement the federal health regulations that prohibit importing primates into the United States for the pet trade and the rules that about 20 states
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