The U.S. Humane Society presented Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) with its Legislative Leader Award for his record on behalf of animal welfare issues on Tuesday.
The senator said he was honored to receive the award.
“Promoting the humane treatment of animals and preventing abuse is an issue we can all rally behind,” Buchanan said.
The award is based on the release of the 2014 Humane Society scorecard, which gave Buchanan one of the highest grades in Congress.
Out of 234 Republicans in the U.S. House, Buchanan was one of three to obtain a score of 83 or higher.
Buchanan’s Humane Society score reflects his votes and leadership on key animal welfare issues in Congress last year, including voting to preserve the Endangered Species Act, sponsoring legislation to ban the slaughter of horses and sharks, and fighting to protect endangered gray wolves.
“We are tremendously grateful to Congressman Buchanan for his work to celebrate the human-animal bond, and to stop abuses such as animal fighting, shark finning, horse slaughter, the pet trade in large constrictor snakes and inhumane factory farming practices,” Human Society Legislative Fund President Michael Markarian said. “Congressman Buchanan has been at the forefront of federal policies to prevent animal cruelty and protect wildlife such as Florida’s treasured manatees.”