5/1/2023 -
Ever wonder what a tamarau is? ProCon’s new glossary of animals used in animal testing can help!
(it’s a small species of buffalo)
1/12/2023 -
On Dec. 29, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the FDA Modernization Act 2.0. Sponsored by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), the law updates the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by eliminating the requirement that pharmaceutical companies test new drugs on animals before human trials. The amendment does not prevent companies from performing animals tests, but makes the tests the choice of the company.
1/5/2023 -
As of Jan. 1, 2023, when New York’s law went into effect, ten states have bans on animal testing for cosmetics.
9/8/2021 -
On Sep. 2, 2021, Mexico became the 41st country and first in North America to ban cosmetics testing on animals, according to the Humane Society International.
5/5/2021 -
797,546 animals were used for research, testing, teaching, experimentation, and/or surgery in US states, DC, and Puerto Rico in 2019, according to an Apr. 30, 2021 USDA report. Explore the data by state, species of animal, and types of testing.
3/18/2021 -
Yesterday, Virginia joined three other states in banning animal testing for cosmetics. Explore the laws in this new resource.
2/24/2021 -
A shortage of monkeys, including pink-faced rhesus macaques, threatened vaccine development at the beginning of the pandemic and as variants of COVID-19 were found. The monkeys were previously flown in from China, but a ban on wildlife imports from China forced researchers to look elsewhere, a difficult task as China previously supplied over 60% of research monkeys in the United States.
3/19/2020 -
Dig into the history of the debate over animal testing, from the dissection of live animals in 500 BC to efforts to develop a COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine in 2020.
3/18/2020 -
Examine the top 12 pros and cons of animal research, including arguments on both sides of the debate regarding testing potential vaccines for COVID-19 (coronavirus).
10/2/2019 -
The Environmental Protection Agency, via Administrator Andrew Wheeler, recently announced the organization will phase out animal testing. The Food and Drug Administration stands by its policy to use animals for testing, says Public Affairs Specialist Tara Rabin. Find quotes from Wheeler, Rabin, and others in this debate.
8/29/2019 -
Learn about the presidential candidates’ views on important issues, compare them with a side-by-side chart, find your best match with a fun quiz, track their finances, and so much more on our 2020 Presidential Election website. The New York Times called our previous presidential election site “The most comprehensive tool for researching the candidate’s stance on issues.” Check back monthly for expanded issue coverage.
2/21/2019 -
Our new topic explores the pros and cons in the debate over making birth control pills available over-the-counter (OTC). 9.1 million women (12.6% of contraceptive users) use birth control pills, which are the second-most commonly used method of contraception in the United States. Proponents say making the birth control pill available over-the-counter would lower teen pregnancy rates, provide contraceptive access to medically underserved women, and ease access to a health-improving drug with decades of safe use. Opponents say making the Pill over-the-counter would raise the cost of contraception for women, pose a danger to teens’ and women’s health by removing the doctor’s visit requirement, and limit what options are made available.
Our new website presents the top pro & con arguments and quotes, a history of the debate, a video gallery, the prescription status of birth control pills around the world, and a list of drugs switched from prescription to OTC status.
1/17/2019 -
ProCon.org, a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity,
seeks an in-house Researcher (full-time with benefits or part-time
without benefits) to develop content for websites devoted to a
nonpartisan in-depth presentation of 70+ controversial issues. Three
items are required for application, as specified in the job notice.
7/16/2018 -
We’re excited to announce 50 free lesson plan ideas for educators! Visit our Teachers’ Corner for inspiration, including lessons plans about distinguishing fact from opinion, how to write a “call-to-action” letter, and content from our partner Credo Reference.