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WASHINGTON—Congressman Paul D. Tonko thanked the Humane Society of the United States today for naming him their 2020 Humane Horseman of the Year. The national award recognizes Tonko’s leadership and dedication to passing of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act as well as for his ongoing leadership and support for equine welfare initiatives. This annual award is given to an individual who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to protecting American equines.

“I am humbled to be named Humane Horseman of the Year by the Humane Society of the United States,” Congressman Tonko said. “My work—really our work—to elevate the sport of horseracing with strong, enforceable standards of integrity and safety would not have been possible without all of the champions working to lift up the health of our equine athletes. I look forward to a long successful partnership as we continue paving a bright future for this noble sport.”

“During his time in Congress, Representative Tonko has been a tireless champion for equine protection, always going above and beyond,” stated Keith Dane, senior director of equine protection at the Humane Society of the United States. “We are so appreciative of his remarkable leadership to stop terrible cruelties to equines including the slaughter of horses for human consumption, soring of Tennessee walking horses and related breeds to win prizes, and doping of racehorses, which has caused so many tragic fatalities.”

Rep. Tonko is a longtime member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus and has consistently championed horse protection legislation including the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act to prevent the slaughter of American horses and the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act to protect certain gaited horse breeds from the abusive training practice known as soring.

In the House of Representatives Rep. Tonko was the lead sponsor of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act with longtime partner Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY). The bill, signed into law in December of 2020, addresses widespread doping and establishes uniform national rules and oversight for the use of drugs in racehorses, replacing the assortment of 38 U.S. racing jurisdictions all with unique rules and regulations.  It also creates a new independent nonprofit authority that will work with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency as its anti-doping and medication control enforcement agency.

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