In September, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America held its 2007 Guardian Awards ceremony in the United States Capitol. The Guardian Award is given annually by the Partnership in recognition of leadership on substance abuse issues. This year the Partnership honored 23 Members of Congress, thanking them for their leadership efforts to protect America’s families from the dangers of drug use.

The awards were co-presented by Stephen J. Pasierb, president and CEO of the Partnership, and members of the organization’s Parent Advisory Board, a committed group of parents from around the country who have had a broad range of family experiences with drugs and alcohol, and volunteer their guidance in the development of Partnership tools and resources for parents.

“We are proud to join with our Parent leaders in honoring this group of legislators. They are actively committed to supporting drug education, prevention and treatment, and they are true guardians of America’s families,” said Pasierb. “We are grateful for their efforts to ensure that our children have safer, healthier futures.”

Honorees from the U.S. Senate include Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA).

Members of the House of Representatives honored include Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Rep. Rod Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA), Rep. Sandy Levin (D-MI), Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV), Rep. David Obey (D-WI), Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH), Rep. José Serrano (D-NY), Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) and Rep. James Walsh (R-NY).

Following the award ceremony, members of the Parent Advisory Board met with their home state representatives to share their personal experiences and brief them on the work that the Partnership is in support of for parents to help them prevent, intervene, or treat drug and alcohol problems in their families.