“It’s a travesty”—that’s how Battlestar Galactica and Miami Vice star Edward James Olmos describes the federal government’s waste of billions of taxpayer dollars funding foreign laboratories to experiment on animals. In a new PETA video, the actor urges members of Congress nationwide to end this nonsense in one fast move: By co-sponsoring the bipartisan Cease Animal Research Grants Overseas (CARGO) Act (HR 4757), which would ban the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from funding animal testing in other countries. 

Who is Footing the Bill for Cruel Tests on Animals Overseas? Every American Family

Between 2011 and 2021, NIH gave $2.2 billion in taxpayer funding to foreign laboratories to torment animals in pointless and cruel experiments. The agency does not require foreign organizations that receive American money to comply with local animal protection laws or adhere to all NIH requirements for U.S. animal laboratories.

NIH does not even audit most foreign laboratories. This has led to fraud, animal abuse, and research misconduct. For example, Colombia-based Caucaseco Scientific Research Center was shut down last year after a PETA investigation revealed that experimenters confined monkeys in filthy conditions, left them to die from their infected wounds, and forced mice into cannibalism—among other violations of animal care guidelines and local laws—all while collecting more than $17 million of U.S. taxpayers’ money without producing an effective malaria vaccine for humans.

“In foreign laboratories such as Caucaseco, experimenters are free to abuse, mutilate, and kill animals on the American taxpayer’s dime with no oversight,” says Olmos. “That’s why PETA and I are calling on Congress to co-sponsor and pass the CARGO Act to stop funneling money into these cruel operations.”

Tell Congress to Stand and Deliver a Path Towards Modern, Animal-Friendly Research

The CARGO Act—introduced by Reps. Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01) and Troy Nelhs (R-Texas-18)—would prevent taxpayer money from going to waste and allow for the funding of animal-free, human-relevant research in the U.S. and worldwide. Twenty-two other members of Congress—11 Democrats and 11 Republicans—have since signed on as co-sponsors. YOU can help push this crucial piece of legislation forward by urging your U.S. representative to support it:

Note: PETA supports animal rights, opposes all forms of animal exploitation, and educates the public on those issues. PETA does not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or any political party. 

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