ATLANTA – State Representative Penny Houston (R-Nashville) recently received the Outstanding State Legislator for 2011 Award from the Georgia Council on Aging (GCOA). The Council awarded Rep. Houston, who chairs the House Appropriations Sub-committees on Human Resources, in recognition of her support for aging services funding and her fight to restore funding for respite care, Meals on Wheels, and vision services.
“I am truly honored to receive this recognition from GCOA,” said Rep. Houston. “As chair of the Human Resources Subcommittee for Appropriations, I try to find new ways to stretch our limited taxpayer dollars, so that we can continue to ensure adequate funding for the basic services that so many older Georgians depend on for proper nutrition and care.”
The GCOA’s Outstanding State Legislator Award is given annually to state legislators who act as “aging champions” during the General Assembly’s regular legislative session. As vice-chair of the powerful Human Resources Subcommittee for Appropriations for the past two years, Rep. Houston presides over the first hearings on the aging services budget and oversees the recommendations that then go to the full Appropriations Committee, the House floor, and subsequently to the Senate. She has been a vigorous supporter of funding restoration for critical aging services and was a champion for the full restoration of $1,045,000 funding for Meals on Wheels and $1,376,718 for Home and Community Based Services.
“Rep. Houston always researches issues thoroughly and frequently calls on advocates to understand the impact of service reductions or restoration and the particulars of what each service actually provides. She is also always available to hear questions or concerns,” said Ann Williams, GCOA Legislative Chair. “In a year when many services were cut dramatically, it is a small miracle that the recommended budget cuts to Meals on Wheels and Home and Community Based Services were not routinely accepted. Instead, Representative Houston remained a constant voice for older Georgians throughout the budget process for both the Fiscal Year 2010 amended budget and the Fiscal Year 2011 budget.”
Representative Penny Houston represents the citizens of District 170, which includes portions of Berrien, Colquitt, and Cook counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1997, and is currently a Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. She also serves on the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Banks & Banking, Budget and Fiscal Oversight, and Ways and Means committees.
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