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Congressman Cohen Presses FBI on Animal Abuse in Training Drills

June 28, 2016

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) has sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director James Comey to raise concerns about the agency’s use of an abusive contractor and a controversial medical training method that involves harming and killing animals.

“Government agencies should not be engaging in outdated training practices that provide inferior medical education, waste tax dollars and harm animals when superior and economical alternatives are available,” said Congressman Cohen. “I’m further troubled that the companies awarded contracts for these unnecessary trainings often have histories of violating federal laws and policies.”

The letter from Congressman Cohen—who serves on the House Judiciary Committee that has oversight authority over the FBI— questions why the agency is still employing so-called “live tissue training” on animals to teach emergency medical skills when more effective and cost-efficient human simulators are available, are in use by other agencies and are endorsed by leading medical organizations. Live tissue training involves shooting and dismembering animals to mimic human traumatic injuries. Congressman Cohen also questions why the FBI recently hired a training company that has reportedly violated federal contracting terms during recent courses.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

This past Sunday, the New York Times Editorial Board called for a ban on the use of animals in live tissue training.

Congressman Cohen is a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation (H.R. 1095) that would end live tissue training throughout the Department of Defense. He also recently joined 70 other members of congress on a letter to the Pentagon urging it to accelerate its progress.