Michigan's senior United States Senator Carl Levin has been named this year's recipient of the State Bar Animal Law Section's Brandi Award. The award, which is given for outstanding contributions in the area of animal law, will be presented Monday, October 25, 2004 at 12:15 p.m. at his offices in the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, 477 Michigan Avenue, Room 1860, Detroit.

"One of the benefits of being in public life is the opportunity to help those who cannot act for themselves. The Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan commends Senator Levin for his support of the voiceless, the animals," said M. Jean Ligon, Chair of the Animal Law Section and a Brighton attorney. "His actions have brought national attention, and much-needed improvement, to the condition of wild, farm, marine and companion animals."

Senator Levin was the unanimous choice of the Animal Law Section's Council, because of his contributions on behalf of animals during his years of service in the United States Senate since 1978.

Of particular note in the past year was his introduction of resolution 269 in the 108th Congress urging the government of Canada to end the commercial seal hunt. Other noteworthy contributions by Senator Levin in the current 108th Congress alone include:

• Co sponsorship of S. 736 (2003) amending the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen enforcement of provisions relating to animal fighting;
• Co sponsorship of S. 1298 (2003) amending the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to ensure the humane slaughter of downed animals;
• Co sponsorship of Senate Congressional Resolution 55 (2003) expressing strong opposition to commercial whaling;
• Co sponsorship of S. 2352 (2004) prohibiting the slaughter of horses for human consumption; and
• S. 269, Public Law 108-191, Captive Wildlife Safety Act (2003) prohibiting import, export, transport, sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase of certain wildlife species.

Senator Levin was born and raised in Detroit where he attended Central High School. He graduated from Swarthmore College and from Harvard University Law School. He practiced and taught law in Michigan until 1964 when he was appointed an assistant attorney general of Michigan and the first general counsel for the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. Senator Levin is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He also serves on the Governmental Affairs, Intelligence and Small Business Committees; the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations; Great Lakes and Smart Growth Task Forces as well as the Auto Caucus.

Past recipients of the Brandi Award include the Hon. Kaye Tertzag, Wayne County Circuit Court; the Hon. H. David Soet of Kent County Circuit Court; the Hon. Steven R. Servaas of Michigan's 63rd District Court; and John A. Hallacy, Calhoun County Prosecuting Attorney.