The following press release was sent out by the Sierra Club on Monday, October 29:
Cited for “New Leadership for the Environment” The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club has named State Rep. Donna Howard of Austin as the recipient of the Sierra Club State Legislative Service Award for “New Leadership for the Environment.” In making the announcement the Sierra Club noted that Rep. Howard was being recognized for her work during the 2007 regular session of the Texas Legislature as an advocate for the state park system and other land conservation initiatives and as co-founder of the new bipartisan Clean Air Caucus
“As a new state representative Rep. Howard demonstrated extraordinary leadership in the legislature,” said Sierra Club state director Ken Kramer. “Her work during the past year has been a great example of someone ‘hitting the deck running.’ She has shown an incredible amount of skill, intelligence, and dedication in carrying out her legislative responsibilities and in being a strong new voice for environmental protection. I have represented the Sierra Club professionally before the Texas Legislature for 25 years, and Rep. Howard is one of the most impressive new members of the Texas House that I’ve seen in all those years.”
First elected in a special election to fill a vacant spot in 2006, Rep. Howard was named to the House Committee on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, the committee with oversight authority for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, among other agencies. As a member of that committee Rep. Howard took a strong stance in favor of legislation to provide a dramatic increase in funding for the Texas state parks system. During the session she also worked tirelessly to maintain the integrity of the state parks system and to assure that changes in the status of state historical sites would be implemented in an effective, efficient, and planned manner.
Rep. Howard also worked with members of both parties in the House to forge cooperative efforts to improve air quality in the state’s metropolitan areas.
Rep. Howard is one of six winners of the 2007 Sierra Club Legislative Service Awards, which recognize individual members of the Texas Legislature who made significant contributions to the protection of public health, natural resources, and the environment during this year’s legislative session. One state senator and five state representatives are being honored for their work. They represent both major political parties and a number of geographic areas.
The awards will be presented at a dinner in Austin on Saturday evening, November 10. More information is available at www.texas.sierraclub.org.
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