WCW Announces 2019 Congressional “Waste Warrior” Awards

For the fourth consecutive year, White Coat Waste Project is proud to announce the recipients of its Laurie and Carlee McGrath Congressional Waste Warrior Awards. The award recognizes Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership to expose and stop $20 billion in wasteful and unnecessary taxpayer-funded animal experiments, an effort supported by a majority of Americans. Below are our 2019 honorees, who will receive their awards during private presentations.

U.S. SENATE

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)

• Introduced the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.
• As a member of the Senate subcommittee that funds the USDA, Sen. Collins helped pass legislation urging the USDA to end its deadly kitten experiments and adopt the survivors, which the agency did soon after.

 

Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI)

• Helped introduce the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.
• Helped introduce the KITTEN Act which prompted the USDA to end its wasteful and cruel kitten testing in 2019.

 

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA)

One of the best ways to cut wasteful spending is to call it out when we see it. That’s what I do in my monthly Squeal Award—highlighting the parts of our gov’t that are wasting hardworking Americans’ tax dollars. Proud to be honored by @WhiteCoatWaste for my work to #MakeEmSqueal pic.twitter.com/pzZA2zb3Lj

— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) February 18, 2020

• Introduced the COST Act to require all taxpayer-funded animal experimenters and other federal grantees to publicly disclose the cost of their projects.
• Sen. Ernst highlighted wasteful taxpayer-funded animal experiments, such as $1.3M spent on a project about cats’ reactions to classical music and $7 million spent to warehouse retired chimpanzees at an Air Force base instead of sending them to a less expensive and more suitable sanctuary.

 

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

• Helped introduce the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.
• Secured a federal audit that found agencies are not transparent about their efforts to end animal testing and advised agencies to implement reforms to better report on their progress.

 

Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ)

Honored to receive @WhiteCoatWaste’s 2019 Waste Warrior award for my work to outlaw inhumane animal testing & end needless taxpayer-funded animal experiments. pic.twitter.com/5guAd4KmzG

— Martha McSally (@SenMcSallyAZ) February 11, 2020

• Helped introduce the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.
• Helped secure historic language in the 2020 Veterans Affairs spending bill directing the VA to phase out dog, cat and primate testing by 2025.

 

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)

• As Ranking Member of the VA’s funding panel, led efforts to include historic language in the 2020 VA spending bill directing the agency to phase out dog, cat and primate testing by 2025.

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)

• As Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, passed and enacted historic legislation directing government agencies to phase out testing on dogs, cats and primates.
• Helped introduce the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the end of many experiments and other historic reforms.
• Cosponsored the KITTEN Act, which prompted the USDA to end its wasteful and cruel kitten testing in 2019.

 

Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN)

Jackie Walorski’s efforts to fight animal experimentation have been honored.https://t.co/QrEX5lP1SB

— News/Talk 95.3 MNC (@953MNC) January 16, 2020

• Introduced the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.
• Helped lead effort to pass and enact historic legislation directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to phaseout dog, cat and primate testing by 2025.
• Helped introduce the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the end of many experiments and other historic reforms.
• Helped introduce the FACT Act to improve government agencies’ reporting on progress to end animal tests.

 

Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA)

• As Chairman of the FDA’s funding panel, secured historic language in the agency’s 2020 spending bill directing it to create a timeline and plan for the reduction of primate tests, and retirement of primates to sanctuaries.
• Helped introduce the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.
• Cosponsored the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the end of many experiments and other historic reforms.

 

Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS)

• Helped introduce the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the end of many experiments and other historic reforms.
• Cosponsored the KITTEN Act, which prompted the USDA to end its wasteful and cruel kitten testing in 2019

 

Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)

Thanks to @WhiteCoatWaste for presenting me with the “Waste Warrior” award for my efforts to put an end to inhumane animal testing by government agencies. I’m proud to stand up against animal cruelty and ensure the protection of our pets. pic.twitter.com/HYzfjmczHl

— Matt Cartwright (@RepCartwright) January 29, 2020

• Cosponsored the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the end of many experiments and other historic reforms.
• Sent a letter to the Department of Justice criticizing its use of wasteful and outdated “live tissue training” in which live animals are shot, burned and stabbed to allegedly teach medical skills.
• Cosponsored the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.
• Cosponsored the FACT Act to improve government agencies’ reporting on progress to end animal tests.

 

Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA)

This morning, I received the White Coat Waste Warrior Award from the @WhiteCoatWaste. I was given this award due to my work combatting wasteful taxpayer-funded animal experiments. I will always be a good steward of your tax dollars, #VA05! pic.twitter.com/sZbpehrKZO

— Congressman Denver Riggleman (@RepRiggleman) February 13, 2020

• Cosponsored the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the end of many experiments and other historic reforms.
• Cosponsored the KITTEN Act, which prompted the USDA to end its wasteful and cruel kitten testing in 2019.

 

Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)

Thank you @WhiteCoatWaste for giving me the 2019 Waste Warrior award for my work on ending animal cruelty and inhumane animal testing. This issue is near and dear to my heart and I will continue fighting for animal rights in this new legislative year. pic.twitter.com/jorHldaSNg

— Rep. Tony Cárdenas (@RepCardenas) January 28, 2020

• Helped pass and enact historic legislation directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to phaseout dog, cat and primate testing by 2025.
• Sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security expressing concern about its alarming increase in painful experiments on rabbits.
• Helped introduce the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the end of many experiments and other historic reforms.
• Cosponsored the KITTEN Act, which prompted the USDA to end its wasteful and cruel kitten testing in 2019.
• Cosponsored the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.

 

Rep. Pete Stauber (R- MN)

• Helped lead effort to pass and enact historic legislation directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to phaseout dog, cat and primate testing by 2025.
• Helped introduce the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the end of many experiments and other historic reforms.
• Helped introduce the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.
• Cosponsored the KITTEN Act, which prompted the USDA to end its wasteful and cruel kitten testing in 2019.

 

Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL)

Thanks to @WhiteCoatWaste for stopping by and honoring me as a 2019 Waste Warrior award! Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for cruel and wasteful animal testing. I’m proud to support legislation that protects all of God’s creatures great and small!???? pic.twitter.com/BW3Slmgixe

— Rep. Charlie Crist (@RepCharlieCrist) February 12, 2020

• Helped introduce the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the end of many experiments and other historic reforms.
• Helped introduce the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.
• Cosponsored the FACT Act, to improve government agencies’ reporting on progress to end animal tests.

 

Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX)

• Helped introduce the KITTEN Act, which prompted the USDA to end its wasteful and cruel kitten testing in 2019.
• Helped introduce the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the end of many experiments and other historic reforms.

 

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)

• Helped introduce the KITTEN Act, which prompted the USDA to end its wasteful and cruel kitten testing in 2019.
• Helped introduce the PUPPERS Act to end painful dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Helped lead effort to pass and enact historic legislation directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to phaseout dog, cat and primate testing by 2025.

 

Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX)

• Cosponsored the AFTER Act to allow animals to be retired from government labs when testing ends.
• As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, helped pass historic legislation directing government agencies to phase out testing on dogs, cats and primates.
• Signed a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services criticizing gruesome taxpayer-funded animal experiments using human fetal tissue.