Legislation introduced by a Virginia Congressman seeking to ban the use of cosmetics that have been tested on animals is seeing a push for continued support by his successor.

Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., introduced the legislation, which is being touted among advocates as a starting point for the reform - which has already been adopted by Europe and India, according to the Associated Press.

Rep. Don Beyer, also a Democrat and Moran's successor, is faced with trying to garner support and passage of the bill in a Republican-majority Congress.

"The United States must be a world leader and not a follower," Beyer said, according to AP.

Cosmetic companies have already endorsed the bill, including at least 140 companies such as Paul Mitchell, the Body Shop and LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics.

"If U.S. companies have to comply with what's already transpiring, for example, in the EU, one would want to ensure there aren't any trade barriers," Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, told AP.

The cosmetic industry trade group, the Personal Care Products Council, has said that it supports the bill and that the use of animals in finished product testing is not a common practice anymore.

The practice stopped in the 1980s and is only used when mandated by government bodies.

While the FDA does not mandate the use of animals, it does advise the cosmetic manufacturers to use whatever testing is appropriate and effective -- which is why the manufacturers resort to animals for new ingredients when no other alternative is available.

There is no data available to determine how many animals are used for the testing of these individual ingredients each year, but the bill excludes the animals used for biomedical research.

To-date, the only Republican to back the bill is New York Rep. Michael Grimm. The Humane Society Legislative Fund donated $5,000 to his campaign because of his open support of animal protection issues.