ATLANTA – State Representative Terry England (R-Auburn) was recently named the 2017 Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) in recognition of his numerous contributions to the profession and to the health of all Georgians. The award was presented in front of more than 500 GPHA members at the association’s recent annual meeting on Jekyll Island.

“Rep. England is an effective legislative leader who supports the role of public health in Georgia,” said GPHA President Dianne McWethy. “He is willing to think long-term, support innovative approaches and encourage programs that provide high return on investment. His budget priorities clearly target the improvement of health outcomes for all of Georgia.”

As chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. England has supported a pay rate increase for public health nurses as part of a recruitment and retention effort to keep highly qualified registered nurses from moving to better paying jobs in the private sector. He also backed funding for 12 new environmental health specialist positions, a move that will shorten the time for approval of septic systems for new construction. Additionally, Rep. England was instrumental in approving a seven-year phase-in of public health “hold harmless” funding for counties that would have otherwise lost financial support from the state under a new distribution formula.

A long-time supporter of public health and rural initiatives, Rep. England serves as co-chair of the House Rural Development Council, which recommended legislation to improve healthcare access in rural areas. He is also the former chair of the Southern Legislative Conference Agricultural and Rural Development Committee and remains on the Executive Committee of that organization.

GPHA is the largest organization of public health professionals in the Southeast, with a vision of “healthy Georgians, living in healthy communities.”

*Editor’s note: A photo of Rep. England receiving the 2017 Legislator of the Year Award from GPHA President Dianne McWethy has been attached to this press release for your convenience.

Representative Terry England represents the citizens of District 116, which includes portions of Barrow County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2005 and currently serves as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He also serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Education, Industry and Labor, Natural Resources & Environment and Ways and Means committees.

###