October 2, 2001

Public Citizen Honors 29 Members of Congress for Their Leadership and Commitment to Consumer Rights

Oct. 2, 2001

Public Citizen Honors 29 Members of Congress for Their Leadership and Commitment to Consumer Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Public Citizen will honor 29 members of Congress for their leadership in advancing consumer rights at an awards ceremony and reception Wednesday night. The event is being held to coincide with the year of Public Citizen?s 30^th anniversary.

Those being honored were chosen for their commitment to consumer advocacy and efforts to secure affordable prescription drugs and a patients? bill of rights, enact campaign finance reform, defend public access to courts, make highways safer for motorists, promote affordable energy and conservation measures, protect the environment, strive for universal and comprehensive health coverage, control tobacco, make products and workplaces safer, limit corporate welfare, champion a strong civil justice system and work for democratic trade policies.

“Everyone we are honoring has made tremendous strides in improving the lot of consumers in this country,” said Joan Claybrook, Public Citizen president. “Without their help and dedication, we wouldn?t have accomplished as much as we have.”

Those receiving awards include 12 senators and 17 representatives: Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), John Edwards (D-N.C.), Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), Ernest “Fritz” Hollings (D-S.C.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.); and Reps. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), David Bonior (D-Mich.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), Marty Meehan (D-Mass.), George Miller (D-Calif.), James Oberstar (D-Minn.), Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), Fortney “Pete” Stark (D-Calif.), Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va.).

The reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, One Constitution Ave., N.E. Members of the press are invited to attend.

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