CONGRESSIONAL SCORECARD
FOR THE 105TH CONGRESS
First Session

Courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States

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Choose one of the jurisdictions below to view the scores
of individual Congress members.

This scorecard highlights five key issues -- the dolphin-safe label on canned tuna, U.S. funding of trophy hunts through CAMPFIRE, bear protection, canned hunts, and downed-animal protection -- that were addressed by the 105th Congress in its first session, which began in January 1997 and ended in November 1997. All members of Congress are listed, by state; representatives are scored on all five issues, and senators are scored on only the last three. Use this scorecard as a resource for future communication with your elected officials.

To read about issues to be considered in the second session of the 105th Congress, see "Hot Issues."

1. DOLPHIN-SAFE TUNA

H.R. 408, the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act, implements changes to the International Dolphin Conservation Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the International Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act. Sponsored by Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), the bill ends the existing embargo on dolphin-deadly tuna (tuna caught by chasing, encircling, and capturing dolphins in purse-seine nets) and may make the dolphin-safe label meaningless by allowing tuna caught with purse-seine nets to be labeled "dolphin-safe" as long as no dolphins are observed dying when the tuna is caught. The HSUS actively opposed this measure. The bill passed the House by a 262 to 166 vote. After considerable debate, some concessions were won in S. 39, a similar Senate bill, thanks to the efforts of Sens. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-DE), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Robert C. Smith (R-NH). However, The HSUS continued to oppose this legislation. The Senate approved S. 39 by a 99 to 0 vote. President Clinton signed the bill into law on August 15, 1997. A + signifies a representative voted against the bill. A - signifies he/she voted in favor of the bill.

2. CAMPFIRE -- TAXPAYER FUNDING OF TROPHY HUNTS

The Fox/Miller Amendment to H.R. 2159, the fiscal year 1998 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, would have prevented the use of U.S. tax dollars to directly support or promote trophy hunting or the international trade in elephant ivory, elephant hides, or rhinoceros horn. Since 1989 the U.S. Agency for International Development has subsidized CAMPFIRE (Communal Areas Management Program for Indigenous Resources), an economic development program of the government of Zimbabwe; CAMPFIRE relies primarily on the trophy hunting of African elephants and other endangered or threatened species to provide monetary resources and infrastructure for the local people. The HSUS supported the amendment, which was sponsored by Reps. Jon D. Fox (R-PA) and George Miller (D-CA). The amendment failed by a 159 to 267 vote. A similar amendment, offered by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Wayne Allard (R-CO), Robert C. Smith (R-NH), Robert G. Torricelli (D-NJ), and Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) passed the Senate by a voice vote. A + indicates a representative voted in favor of this amendment. A - indicates he/she voted against it.

3. BEAR PROTECTION

H.R. 619 and S. 263, the Bear Protection Act, was introduced by Rep. John Edward Porter (R-IL) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The measure would ban the sale, import, export, and interstate commerce in bear viscera or products that contain or claim to contain them. A + indicates that a representative or senator cosponsored the appropriate bill. A U indicates that he/she has not yet signed on as a cosponsor.

4. CANNED HUNTING

H.R. 1202 and S. 995, the Captive Exotic Animal Protection Act, targets canned hunting, or the hunting of tame, exotic mammals in enclosed areas for entertainment or a trophy. Sponsored by Rep. George E. Brown Jr. (D-CA) and Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), the act would outlaw interstate or foreign commerce in tame, exotic mammals for the purposes of canned hunting. A + indicates that a representative or senator cosponsored the appropriate bill. A U indicates that he/she has not yet signed on as a cosponsor.

5. DOWNED ANIMALS

H.R. 453 and S. 850, the Downed Animal Protection Act, would prohibit the sale at livestock markets of downed animals -- farm animals who, because of injury or illness, are unable to stand or walk without assistance. The bills were sponsored by Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-NY) and Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI). A + indicates that a representative or senator cosponsored the appropriate bill. A U indicates that he/she has not yet signed on as a cosponsor.

KEY 1. Dolphin-Safe Tuna 2. CAMPFIRE 3. Bear Protection 4. Canned Hunting 5. Downed Animals + = supports the HSUS position - = opposes the HSUS position U = has not yet signed on as a cosponsor A = was absent N = Delegates representing American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands and the resident commissioner representing Puerto Rico may not vote on bills or amendments on the House floor; they may vote in committee and cosponsor legislation. ** = The Speaker of the House generally does not vote unless there is a tie. *** = This representative has resigned from Congress to take another position. Legislators whose names appear in boldface have championed animal-friendly legislation and causes in Congress.

To learn the names of your federal legislators, contact the board of elections or The HSUS's Government Affairs staff. Use the Capitol switchboard number, 202-224-3121, if you decide to call. Address letters as follows.

Senators: The Honorable ____________, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510.

Representatives: The Honorable ____________, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515.

The President: President Bill Clinton, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20500; www.whitehouse.gov.

⌐ 1997 The HSUS. All rights reserved. Used by permission.