Politics & Government
Humane Society names Buchanan its Legislator of the Year. He’s the only one to win it twice
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, was named “Legislator of the Year,” by the Humane Society of the United States on Thursdayand it’s not the first time.
Buchanan becomes the first legislator in the 20-year history of the award to win it twice, having first won it in 2015 for his work on animal welfare legislation.
“Preventing animal cruelty and protecting threatened wildlife are bipartisan issues that we can all get behind,” Buchanan said. “I’m humbled to have been able to help pass important legislation that will protect animals across the country from abuse. Whether it’s protecting endangered species like Florida’s beloved manatees from extinction, banning the torture of pets or ending the cruel and inhumane treatment of horses, I’m honored to fight in Congress on these important issues.”
Buchanan’s achievements for animal welfare legislation are growing. Last year, Buchanan introduced several bills that were signed into law, including the PACT Act, which bans animal cruelty and torture and makes it a felony. It was the first such bill to be signed into federal law.
Buchanan also introduced the RAWR Act, which allows the State Department to offer rewards for information leading to arrests or convictions of wildlife traffickers around the world. The RAWR Act was also signed into law last year.
“During these challenging times, Rep. Buchanan continues to show the best of true congressional leadership by passing laws to protect pets and wildlife and championing the interests of all animals,” said Sara Amundson, Humane Society legislative fund president.
Amundson called Buchanan’s bills “path breaking,” that will ensure harsh federal penalties for perpetrators of animal cruelty.
Buchanan, who co-chairs the Animal Protection Caucus in Congress, received a “perfect score” from the Humane Society for his legislative record on protecting wildlife and preventing animal cruelty that includes dozens of bills.
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