Reno, Nevada – Safari Club International is pleased to announce the 2008 winners of its prestigious annual awards for selected Members of Congress. Rep Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) is the winner of the Federal Legislator of the Year. Rep Mike Thompson, (D-Calif) is the winner of the Hunting Heritage Award.
The winner of the Federal Legislator of the Year award, Rep. Adam Putnam, is a young firebrand and a fifth generation Floridian. Now in his fourth term, he is Chairman of the Republican Conference, which means he is the #3 ranking republican in the House – a tremendous feat for a lawmaker who has yet to turn 40. Rep. Putnam quickly ascended into the ranks of leadership, and now carries the conservation agenda to his colleagues when issues are pending. He is known as a hard-charging workhorse, and can usually be found behind the scenes counting votes and hammering out details. Putnam is also a former co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
The winner of the Hunting Heritage Award, Rep. Mike Thompson, represents the Napa Valley of California, is a member of the Blue Dog coalition of conservative Democrats, and has served as co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. Congressman Thompson is also a past winner of the Federal Legislator of the Year award, which is a prerequisite for the Heritage Award. Congressman Thompson is a strong proponent of conservation, and believes our country’s diversity of fish and wildlife should be protected for future generations. Rep. Thompson leads by example, drafting and introducing complex bills to address today’s conservation challenges. Among other accomplishments, in March 2007, Congressman Thompson introduced the Endangered Species Recovery Act (H.R. 1422), which would provide landowners with tax incentives if they agree to implement species recovery plans. Rep. Thompson also introduced the Wetlands Loan Act, and a bill to make permanent some tax credits for conservation easements, both of which enjoy SCI’s strong support.
The awards were conferred during SCI’s 36th Annual Hunters Convention, in Reno, Nevada. SCI President Dennis Anderson offered SCI’s thanks to the winners, saying “All of us in SCI leadership offer our sincere appreciation to Congressmen Putnam and Thompson for their important work. We look forward to working closely with them on hunting and conservation issues in the future.”
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SCI-First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s 179 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 13 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.safariclub.org www.safariclub.org/ or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.
