ROLAPP AWARD GOES TO CONGRESSMAN JIM McCRERY

The Rolapp Award was presented to Congressman Jim McCrery of Louisiana for his outstanding support of the horse industry. The award was presented to Congressman McCrery on April 19 at a Congressional Reception in the Capitol during the American Horse Council’s National Issues Forum in Washington, DC.

Each year the American Horse Council presents the Rolapp Award to that Member of Congress who has done the most for the horse industry. The Award is presented in honor of R. Richards Rolapp, the President of the AHC until he passed away.

In presenting the award, Jay Hickey, President of the AHC, said that “This year’s winner is most deserving. He was the driving force behind the passage of the so-called ‘alien-withholding legislation,’ which clarified that bettors in other countries can wager into U.S. pools without being subject to U.S. withholding.” The provision, which was passed at the end of the last Congress as part of a large international tax bill, opens up the $85 billion foreign wagering market to the U.S. and is very important to the future international growth of the racing and breeding industry.

Congressman McCrery was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1949, graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1971 and LSU law school in 1975. He practiced law for a number of years and then worked for Congressman Buddy Roemer.

In the spring of 1988, he was elected to Mr. Roemer’s Congressional seat, beating ten other candidates to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Roemer, who had been elected Louisiana’s governor. That victory made Mr. McCrery the first Republican elected from Louisiana’s Fourth District in 114 years. He has been returned to Congress every two years since by overwhelming majorities.

Mr. McCrery serves on the important House Ways and Means Committee, which writes our nation’s tax laws, and is Chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee. He has played a leading role in shaping and passing the major tax bills of the last several years. These bills, which increased the Section 179 expense deduction and provided bonus depreciation, helped the horse industry and the economy.

“The industry very much appreciates Mr. McCrery’s support, hard work and tenacity and is pleased to present him with the Rolapp Award,” said Hickey.