1. CAPTIVE PRIMATE SAFETY ACT (CPSA) H.R. 3199 / S. 1594 Primates are wild animals — not pets. The Captive Primate Safety Act would amend federal law to prohibit private possession and breeding of nonhuman primates as pets and restrict their sale and transport in the pet trade. Importantly, people who already have primates would have a grandfather provision allowing them to keep their animals if they meet the bill's requirements. Qualified sanctuaries and certain other federally regulated entities would be exempt. The goal is to stop the cycle of baby monkeys being bred and sold as pets and later needing sanctuary when private ownership fails. The current House and Senate bills were introduced May 5, 2025. ( GovInfo ) READ THE BILL H.R. 3199 — Captive Primate Safety Act of 2025 S. 1594 — Captive Primate Safety Act FIND & WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES Find Your U.S. Representative by ZIP Code Find & Contact Your U.S. Senators SAMPLE LETTER Subject: Please Support the Captive Primate Safety Act Dear Senator/Representative [Name], I am writing to ask you to support and cosponsor the Captive Primate Safety Act, H.R. 3199 / S. 1594. Nonhuman primates are intelligent, highly social wild animals with complex physical, emotional and social needs. They are not pets. Too often, baby monkeys are separated from their mothers and sold as pets. As they mature and their natural behaviors emerge, families may discover that they cannot safely or humanely care for them. Sanctuaries are then asked to provide lifelong care for animals who should never have entered the pet trade. The Captive Primate Safety Act would help stop this cycle while providing protections for people who already have primates. Please support and cosponsor this important legislation and help protect primates from the private pet trade. Sincerely,[Name][City, State]
2. THE AFTER ACT Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research Act of 2026 — S. 4172 When their research ends, their lives shouldn't have to. The AFTER Act would require federal agencies that use animals in research to establish policies allowing eligible animals who are no longer needed for research to be retired. Rather than automatically being euthanized at the end of a study, animals suitable for retirement could have an opportunity for placement with a sanctuary, rescue organization or appropriate adopter. The legislation was introduced March 24, 2026. ( GovInfo ) At Jungle Friends, we know what life after research can look like: sunshine, trees, companionship, choices and the opportunity to simply be monkeys. READ THE BILL S. 4172 — AFTER Act of 2026 FIND & WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES Find Your U.S. Representative by ZIP Code Find & Contact Your U.S. Senators SAMPLE LETTER Subject: Please Support the AFTER Act of 2026 Dear Senator/Representative [Name], I am writing to ask you to support the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research (AFTER) Act of 2026, S. 4172. Animals used in research have already given so much. When they are healthy and suitable for retirement, they deserve the opportunity to live out the remainder of their lives in qualified sanctuaries, rescue organizations or appropriate adoptive homes rather than being euthanized simply because a study has ended. Sanctuaries such as Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary have demonstrated what is possible. Monkeys who once lived in laboratories can thrive in sanctuary, experiencing companionship, sunshine, trees and the freedom to simply be monkeys. Please support the AFTER Act and help give animals used in federal research a chance at life after the laboratory. Sincerely,[Name][City, State]
3. THE PRIMATE ACT Preventing Risky Importation of Monkeys to Avoid Toxic Exposures Act — H.R. 8471 They belong in the wild — not in our homes or laboratories. The PRIMATE Act would amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit the importation of nonhuman primates into the United States, subject to limited exceptions specified in the legislation. The bill was introduced April 23, 2026 and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. ( GovInfo ) For primates, this could mean fewer monkeys subjected to capture, international transport and eventual confinement in U.S. laboratories. It also addresses the public-health risks associated with importing nonhuman primates. ( PETA ) READ THE BILL H.R. 8471 — PRIMATE Act FIND & WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE Because this is currently a House bill, the most important contact is your U.S. Representative: Find Your U.S. Representative by ZIP Code SAMPLE LETTER Subject: Please Support the PRIMATE Act — H.R. 8471 Dear Representative [Name], I am writing to ask you to support and cosponsor the Preventing Risky Importation of Monkeys to Avoid Toxic Exposures (PRIMATE) Act, H.R. 8471. Nonhuman primates are intelligent, highly social wild animals. The international trade in monkeys subjects animals to capture or breeding for export, transportation over enormous distances and confinement far from the environments in which they belong. The PRIMATE Act would prohibit the importation of nonhuman primates into the United States, subject to limited exceptions, helping reduce the suffering associated with this trade while also addressing serious public-health and biosecurity concerns. Please support and cosponsor H.R. 8471 and help reduce America's reliance on imported primates. Sincerely,[Name][City, State]
4. TRAVELING EXOTIC ANIMAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY PROTECTION ACT (TEAPSPA) Most recent federal legislation: H.R. 5999 / S. 3220 — 117th Congress Wild animals should not be costumes, props or performers. The Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act was designed to amend the Animal Welfare Act to restrict the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling performances. The legislation recognized concerns inherent in traveling animal acts, including repeated transportation, temporary facilities and prolonged confinement. ( Congress.gov ) For monkeys like Coco, who once performed as an organ grinder's monkey before coming to Jungle Friends, this issue is especially close to our hearts. WHERE DOES TEAPSPA STAND TODAY? The most recent federal version we have verified was introduced in the 117th Congress as H.R. 5999 and S. 3220 (2021–2022). The Senate bill was introduced November 17, 2021. ( Congress.gov ) TEAPSPA has not yet been reintroduced in the current Congress. Jungle Friends is keeping a close watch for its reintroduction—or for new federal legislation that would provide similar protections—and we will update this page when there is an opportunity for you to take action. READ THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATION H.R. 5999 — Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act of 2021 S. 3220 — Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act of 2021
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