Sunday, March 7, 2010

Top award for wild horse advocate

Horsetalk

 
Chairman Rahall, far right, with Humane Society CEO Wayne Pacelle and wild horse advocate Madeleine Pickens before a National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee hearing on Rahall's wild horse legislation (H.R. 1018) last year. 

An advocate for American wild horses has received the top congressional award for 2009 from the Humane Society of the United States.
 
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va, will receive the 2009 Humane Legislator of the Year title, for his leadership on the Restore Our American Mustangs (ROAM) Act to overhaul the Interior Department's management of wild horses on public lands and restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of mustangs and burros. he also skillfully guidED 11 wildlife protection measures successfully through that Committee and to approval by the full House.

"Chairman Rahall has done a remarkable job leading the House to pass an extraordinary breadth of important wildlife measures, as well as personally championing the cause of wild horses on public lands," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS.

"He has made the House Natural Resources Committee a real force for good on behalf of animals, and we are so grateful for his compassion, tenacity and skillful legislative work."

Every year, the Humane Society Legislative Fund compiles a federal Humane Scorecard to provide a snapshot of animal protection issues considered by the US Congress and give animal advocates a tool to assess the performance of their Senators and Representatives. The scorecard tracks key votes as well as co-sponsorship of important pro-animal bills and support for adequate funding needed to enforce key animal welfare laws. For 2009, in addition to the top award for Rep. Rahall, Humane Champion awards will go to 19 legislators who took the lead on animal welfare legislation and also received a perfect score on the 2009 Humane Scorecard; Legislative Leader awards will go to 83 legislators for their leadership as prime sponsors of pro-animal legislation; and Humane Advocate awards will go to 28 legislators who received a perfect score on the 2009 Humane Scorecard.

In total, 131 legislators - one-third of the Senate and nearly one-quarter of the House (representing 36 states and two US territories) - will receive awards for their work in 2009.

"We're grateful to the many Members of Congress who are helping to forge a path to a more humane future through their demonstrated leadership on animal protection legislation," said Michael Markarian, president of HSLF.

"Our animal welfare laws are a reflection of our basic values and attitudes shared by people across the country."

• Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., is a recipient of an animal welfare leadership award for his work on animal protection legislation.

Among several animal welfare related issues receiving Byrd's support was one requiring the federal government to allow for the adoption of retired service horses, and he also worked on a bill to revamp the Department of Interior's management of wild horses on public lands.




March 7, 2010

No comments:

Post a Comment