2008-07-23 22:29:04 -
www.centurycouncil.org - The Century Council Matthew Harakal, 202-637-0077 The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers, hosted its sixth annual Congressional Awards reception on Capitol Hill today to honor select members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have shown an outstanding commitment to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. In all, a total of
37 Members of Congress received the honor for their ongoing dedication.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, there were 17,602 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2006, and 2,642 of these fatalities were among youth under 21. Understanding the scope of this national problem, this year's award recipients joined The Century Council to help educate youth and their parents from middle school all the way up to college-aged students about responsible decision-making concerning beverage alcohol.
The recipients exhibited outstanding leadership through their unwavering commitment to fight drunk driving and underage drinking. Some launched Council initiatives in their district, others signed onto the Council-supported HR 4453 (The Underage Drinking Prevention Act), and several Members did both. The Council operates on the philosophy that collective action can have a greater impact than individual efforts. The Council also acts as a catalyst and brings together all sectors of the community, but that all starts with our elected officials.
The Honorable Susan Molinari, Chairman of The Century Council, said she was proud of the relationships forged between the Members of Congress and The Council. "Since its inception, The Century Council has partnered with more than 170 Members of Congress in the fight against drunk driving and underage drinking. I'm pleased that many of the Members receiving awards today have partnered with The Council multiple times, and several others worked with our organization during their first year in office," she said. "We look forward to continuing to work with all of these Members in the near future."
Complete List of Award Recipients: -0- Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D- Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA) NV) Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA) Congressman John Mica (R-FL) Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R- Congressman Dennis Moore (D-KS) TN) Congressman Roy Blunt (R-MO) Congressman Jon Porter (R-NV) Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (D-KS) Congressman George Radanovich (D- CA) Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) Congresswoman Donna Christensen Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA) (D-VI) Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC) Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) Congressman Charles W. Dent (R-PA) Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) (R-TN) Congressman Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (R- Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D- MO) NH) Congresswoman Mary Fallin (R-OK) Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC) Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN) Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-MD) Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL) Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee Congressman Albert Wynn* (D-TX) Congresswoman Cathy McMorris *No longer in office Rodgers (R-WA)
About The Century Council
The Century Council's mission is to promote responsible decision-making regarding drinking or non-drinking of beverage alcohol and to discourage all forms of irresponsible consumption through education, communications, research, law enforcement and other programs. Recognizing nearly twenty years of progress, the distillers that fund The Century Council have invested over $175 million in its programs to fight drunk driving and underage drinking. For more information about The Century Council, please visit www.centurycouncil.org.
37 Members of Congress Receive Recognition for Their Commitment to
Fighting Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking
