CHIMP Act Amendments of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1561
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2013-09-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Health programs administration and funding
Mammals
Medical research
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-30
text: 
CHIMP Act Amendments of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, with respect to the lifetime care of chimpanzees used in federally conducted or supported medical research, to: (1) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reserve appropriations through FY2023 for the sanctuary system and other compliant facilities, and (2) allow reservation of funds beyond a total of $30 million if the Secretary determines that doing so would enable the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to operate more efficiently and economically by decreasing the overall federal cost of supporting and maintaining chimpanzees from FY2014-FY2023. Requires such a determination to be reported to Congress and include biennial updates regarding the care and maintenance of the chimpanzees and related costs.
 
Removes construction and renovation of sanctuary system facilities as a purpose of expenditure of the reserved funds. Requires the use of funds for other compliant facilities to be determined by the Secretary (rather than, as under current law, by the board of directors of the nonprofit entity operating the facility).
 
Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to evaluate: (1) the research status of NIH-owned or supported chimpanzees, (2) the cost for the care and maintenance of such chimpanzees, (3) the extent to which requirements that a nonprofit private entity match funding have been met, and (4) any options for cost savings for support and maintenance that may be identified.

action_date: 2013-10-30
text: 
CHIMP Act Amendments of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, with respect to the lifetime care of chimpanzees used in federally conducted or supported medical research, to: (1) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reserve appropriations through FY2023 for the sanctuary system and other compliant facilities, and (2) allow reservation of funds beyond a total of $30 million if the Secretary determines that doing so would enable the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to operate more efficiently and economically by decreasing the overall federal cost of supporting and maintaining chimpanzees from FY2014-FY2023. Requires such a determination to be reported to Congress and include biennial updates regarding the care and maintenance of the chimpanzees and related costs.
 
Removes construction and renovation of sanctuary system facilities as a purpose of expenditure of the reserved funds. Requires the use of funds for other compliant facilities to be determined by the Secretary (rather than, as under current law, by the board of directors of the nonprofit entity operating the facility).
 
Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to evaluate: (1) the research status of NIH-owned or supported chimpanzees, (2) the cost for the care and maintenance of such chimpanzees, (3) the extent to which requirements that a nonprofit private entity match funding have been met, and (4) any options for cost savings for support and maintenance that may be identified.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2013-10-31
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7684-7685; text as passed Senate: CR S7685)
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7684-7685; text as passed Senate: CR S7685)
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 228.
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Harkin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Harkin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2013-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-09-30
text: Introduced in Senate