Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 8, 1990 TAG: 9006080101
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"Animal research has saved millions of human lives," said Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan. "It is an integral part of mankind's striving for the betterment of humanity."
"I am saddened and a bit angry that we have to put up with major disruptions to science by so-called animal activists who are, in fact, nothing more than animal-rights terrorists," he said.
Animal-rights activists, who plan to march Sunday in the nation's capital, responded that Sullivan's remarks were "appalling." They said he was ignoring the continuing exploitation of laboratory animals that suffer needlessly while alternative testing methods are available.
Sullivan was joined at a news conference by officials from the Association of American Medical Colleges; actor David Birney, who is a national spokesman for the American Diabetes Association; Rep. Vin Weber, R-Minn.; and parents of children who have benefited from medical procedures that evolved from animal experiments. Also participating were representatives of the beef, dairy, poultry and other industries dependent on animals.
Sullivan said that "virtually everyone agrees that unnecessary animal research or the cruel use of animals is wrong."
He added, however, that the federal government has in place regulations that ensure that research animals are treated humanely "and that we do everything possible to reduce any pain or discomfort" that results from experiments. He said cruel treatment of animals by research scientists was "very rare."
by CNB