In my professional life, I belong to a national scientific society that is very active in legislative affairs.  Mostly because I want to stay up to date with legislation that affects biomedical research and funding issues, I’ve signed up to receive “Action Alerts”, which are e-mails notifying members of legislation being considered by Congress.  Within the e-mail is a link that brings you to an e-mail utility with a pre-drafted letter (that I could edit if I wanted) and by simply inputting my home zip code, the correct representative will get my letter.

About a week or so ago I received one of these alerts, notifying me that there is legislation being considered that would outlaw ALL research with certain breeds of primates that are regularly used in research.  I’m fully aware of the ethical considerations that go into using animals for biomedical research and am comfortable supporting my fellow scientists who ethically and humanely conduct animal research. (For the record I don’t personally conduct animal research, I work with human research volunteers, though others in my building use various rodent species in their labs.)

So I sent a letter to my representative, stating in part:

The use of chimpanzees in research is a privilege that is not taken lightly, and there are a number of protections in place to ensure the welfare and well-being of these animals.  Chimpanzees have already been pivotal to the development of the current vaccines for hepatitis A and B, and may be our only hope for the swift development of a hepatitis C vaccine. I urge you to support the health of all Americans and our nation’s commitment to biomedical research by withdrawing your co-sponsorship of the Great Ape Protection Act.

A few days later I received a letter from his office, and this is where I got pissed off!!  Here is the part of his reply that really irritated me:

Similarly, I am aware of the unethical scientific research done on great apes, and I am equally alarmed.  Please know I share your concerns and as a result, I have signed on as a co-sponsor

Umm, Congressmen, did you even read my letter to you? I support ethically-conducted animal research! Over the years, there have been isolated reports of scientists not adhering to the ethical and legal guidelines that govern animal research, but to use those few idiots as justification to halt ALL research with apes is naive and shortsighted.

I really don’t mind that my Congressmen and I have a difference in opinion on this matter.  What bothers me is that he or some staffer couldn’t be bothered be send me the right form letter in response.

Fuckin’ politicians…

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