WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate unanimously voted to pass the bipartisan legislation authored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY) that would end an outdated FDA mandate that required experimental drugs to be tested on animals before they could be used on humans in clinical trials. Specifically, the FDA Modernization Act gives drug sponsors the option to use scientifically rigorous, proven non-animal test methods when they are suitable. Drug sponsors will still be able to use animal testing where appropriate.
“The passage of my bill will avoid the needless suffering of countless animals, now that experimental drug testing can be done with modern non-animal alternatives that are more scientifically relevant,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation brings us one step closer to eliminating the cruel practice of unnecessary animal testing.”
Background:
In 1938, Congress passed the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, mandating animal toxicity testing. Since then, science and data has shown that in some products, animal testing is a highly inconsistent predictor of toxic responses in humans, all while animal testing on any single pharmaceutical product often requires killing hundreds of animal test subjects. Since then, a number of non-animal tests have been developed that are more predictive of the human response to drugs.
You can read the FDA Modernization Act in its entirety HERE. 
