Bill Overview
Title: Chimp Sanctuary Act
Description: This bill prohibits the housing of chimpanzees at any Air Force installation. Any chimpanzees currently housed at an Air Force installation must be transferred to Chimp Haven in Louisiana.
Sponsors: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Target Audience
Population: Chimpanzees currently housed at Air Force installations
Estimated Size: 100
- The only chimpanzee sanctuary in the United States is Chimp Haven, Louisiana, which houses over 300 chimpanzees.
- The legislation specifies the transfer of existing chimpanzees from Air Force installations to Chimp Haven.
- Estimating the global chimpanzee population is difficult, but the current known population in research and sanctuary settings would be around several hundred to a few thousand globally.
- The bill impacts chimpanzees currently or previously used in research, specifically those housed at Air Force installations.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects a small subset of US military personnel and researchers involved in chimpanzee research at Air Force installations.
- The budget indicates some significant reshuffling and infrastructure development at Chimp Haven to accommodate new arrivals, which could offer job opportunities and potentially boost local economies slightly.
- Most US citizens will not be directly impacted, as the number of chimpanzees involved is small and confined to specific sites.
- Staff at Chimp Haven and involved Air Force installations may experience changes in their professional responsibilities, which can affect personal satisfaction due to changing job roles and witnessing improved conditions for the animals.
- Animal rights activists and community members may experience emotional benefits from the perceived welfare improvement for the chimpanzees.
Simulated Interviews
Animal Shelter Manager (Shreveport, LA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm thrilled to see a policy like this, ensuring better living conditions for these intelligent beings.
- Chimp Haven has great facilities and a loving environment for the chimps, so it's a good move.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Air Force Researcher (Dayton, OH)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's frustrating to have projects disrupted. I understand it's better for the chimps, but we need alternatives for our research.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Lobbyist for Animal Rights NGO (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a wonderful step forward. We've been advocating for this for years. It's crucial that these animals live in humane conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
Construction Worker (Bossier City, LA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This has been great for my work, lots of new projects coming in. It's interesting to see how these places are built too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Public Health Researcher (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to see ethical considerations being prioritized. The wellbeing of research animals reflects on how we conduct science.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Veterinarian (Houston, TX)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- From a veterinary perspective, transferring the chimps is a good decision. They'll have more space and better living conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Animal Rights Activist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finally, a policy that cares about animals! We must do more things like this to protect wildlife and research animals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired Air Force Officer (San Antonio, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In my years, I've seen attitudes change. This step reflects an evolution in military ethics, which is a good thing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Environmental Lawyer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy represents a significant win for animal rights law. It sets a precedent for further protective measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
University Professor (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Phasing out chimpanzee research is ethically sound; we must invest in better models.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $4000000 (Low: $3500000, High: $5000000)
Year 3: $4000000 (Low: $3500000, High: $5000000)
Year 5: $3500000 (Low: $3000000, High: $4500000)
Year 10: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3000000)
Year 100: $500000 (Low: $400000, High: $1000000)
Key Considerations
- The small scale of chimpanzee housing in Air Force installations could limit the overall budget impact.
- Existing partnerships between Chimp Haven and federal agencies might mitigate some operational costs.
- Future changes in policy towards animal research could impact the necessity and scope of such bills.