ATLANTA – State Representative Micah Gravley (R-Douglasville) was recently named the 2016 Legislator of the Year by the Georgia State Firefighters Association and the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs. Rep. Gravley was honored at an awards ceremony during the annual Georgia Fire Service Conference on August 11 in Augusta, Ga.
“I am deeply
humbled and greatly honored to have been named the 2016 Legislator of Year by these esteemed organizations,” said Rep. Gravley. “Georgia’s firefighters put their lives on the line daily, as do all of our first responders, to keep our communities safe.”
The Legislator of the Year Award is given to a legislator who goes above and beyond in their role to support Georgia fire service. Rep. Gravley was selected this year for his work on House Bill 216.
“When it comes to protecting firefighters, Rep. Gravley is the hardest working legislator in the Georgia General Assembly,” said Dean King, president of GSFA. “I am proud to call him my friend, and I greatly appreciate his hard work on our behalf.”
During the 2016 legislative session, Rep. Gravley sponsored HB 216, legislation that would add cancer to the list of occupational diseases covered by a firefighter’s worker’s compensation benefits if it is proven that the cancer was caused by the individual’s employment, which is not allowed under current Georgia law.
“This legislation is personal to me because my family is full of firefighters, and I see what they go through on a daily basis,” added Rep. Gravley. “I am committed to continuing the fight for this legislation. These men and women who have been diagnosed with cancer due to their service deserve a fighting chance.”
HB 216, also known as the Firefighter Cancer Bill, passed overwhelmingly in the Georgia House of Representatives and unanimously in the Georgia State Senate. The bill, however, was later vetoed.
“In a very short period of time, Rep. Gravley has distinguished himself as one of the most vocal and fiercest advocates for firefighters in the General Assembly,” said Robert Singletary, president of GAFC. “This award is our way of thanking him for all he has done for our community.”
For more information about the Georgia State Firefighters’ Association and the Georgia Fire Service Conference, please click here, and for more information about the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, please click here.
For more information on HB 216, please click here.
Editor’s note: A photo of Rep. Gravley with his 2016 Legislator of the Year award is attached to this email for your convenience.
Representative Micah Gravley represents the citizens of District 67, which includes portions of Douglas and Paulding counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and currently serves as the Vice Chairman on the Code Revision Committee. He also serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Judiciary Non-Civil, and Public Safety & Homeland Security committees.
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