February 28, 2007

By Kristin Hegazy

HSUS President & CEO Wayne Pacelle and HSLF President Mike Markarian share a laugh with Congressman Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) after presenting him with his "2006 Humane Legislator of the Year" Award. Photo: Bill Petros

On February 28, 2007, The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund presented awards to 134 members of the 109th Congress for their legislative efforts to protect animals during the past year. U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), who is co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus, received the top honor for his leadership on three animal protection bills in 2006, one of which was enacted into law. Three Senators and about three dozen Representatives found time to stop by an evening reception in the U.S. Capitol Building to accept their awards and visit with HSUS and HSLF staff.

Humane Legislator of the Year
Shays was named 2006 Humane Legislator of the Year for his work resulting in the passage of legislation, put forth as a result of Hurricane Katrina, which requires state and local agencies to include pets in their disaster planning. "It has been an honor to partner with the Humane Society on many legislative efforts key to improving animal welfare in our country and I look forward to continued work together," said Shays.

"Humane Advocate" recipient Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) with HSLF Executive Director Sara Amundson. Photo: Bill Petros

Together with Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Shays also introduced the Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act to create animal welfare standards for meat, dairy, and egg products purchased by the federal government for use in the military, federal prisons, and school lunches, for example. If passed, the Act would require that farm animals have adequate shelter, space, food, water and veterinary care. View video on the Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act with Congressman Shays.

Finally, Shays was a lead sponsor of a bill to crack down on "canned hunts,"  opportunities offered by private trophy hunting facilities to kill animals that are trapped within enclosures. Even many hunters decry this target shooting of semi-tame animals as unfair and unsportsmanlike.

The Humane Scorecard
The Humane Scorecard tracks key votes as well as co-sponsorship of important pro-animal bills. It is designed to help animal advocates assess the performance of their U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative.

Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), with HSUS Vice President for Government Affairs Nancy Perry, was presented a "Legislative Leader" award for leading the charge to end horse slaughter. Photo: Bill Petros

In addition to Shays, The HSUS and HSLF honored 21 Humane Champions who sponsored pro-animal legislation in 2006 and scored a perfect 100% on the Humane Scorecard, 39 Legislative Leaders who sponsored pro-animal legislation in 2006, and 73 Humane Advocates who scored a perfect 100% on the Humane Scorecard. A list of the honorees is available on the HSLF web site.

More Work to Be Done in 2007
The HSUS and HSLF are working in the 110th Congress to enact legislation on which the 109th Congress did not complete action, such as bills to stop horse slaughter, animal fighting, slaughter of "downer" livestock, "puppy mills," the use in research of dogs and cats obtained from random sources, canned and Internet hunting, and interstate commerce in captive primates. They also hope to require labeling of all fur-trimmed garments and help enforce the ban on dog and cat fur. New areas of interest include establishing pet trusts, requiring alternatives to animal tests, and banning imports of sport hunted polar bear trophies.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 519 C Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002.