Gardner appointed as chair of Health Policy Committee

By Rep. Pat Gardner

This week, I was honored by my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus when I was appointed as chair of the caucus’s Health & Human Services Policy Committee for 2007-08. In this leadership position, I will preside over the consideration by our caucus of legislation related to health care delivery issues all over Georgia.

Despite the fact that House Democrats are in the minority, it is vitally important that we participate in the process to make sure the concerns of you, our constituents, are heard. As a unified caucus, we can make a difference on many of the key issues addressed at the State Capitol.

The House has adopted legislation that I introduced, commending Georgia’s sustainable and environmentally friendly businesses. House Resolution 87 recognizes that sustainable small businesses contribute more than 1,300 jobs and $267 million to Georgia’s economy. Many of Georgia’s corporations are committed to incorporating sustainable principles and environmental management systems into their businesses.

Some of the companies leading the way for a more sustainable Georgia are: Skye Energy, Boss International, Café Campesino and Cooperative, EcoLink, CollectiveGood, Perkins + Will, Infratec, IfPeople, Sustainable Business Partners, Pull-A-Part Inc., Novelis Inc., Georgia Recycling Corporation, Interface Inc., Melaver Inc., Rechargeable Battery Recycling, Enviro-log, Rainwater Harvest, SP News Print Company and One World Sustainable Energy Corporation.

This resolution properly commends Georgia’s sustainable businesses for their outstanding citizenship and for creating innovative solutions and business models that convert waste into valuable resources, improve air and water quality and restore the environment for all Georgians.

I have co-sponsored legislation that is intended to result in the protection of the marshlands along the Georgia coast. House Resolution 51 urges the state Department of Natural Resources to refrain from adopting rules that would put the state’s marshlands in jeopardy by going to a 25-foot buffer between the marsh and upland development. The rules proposed would also not allow consideration of storm water runoff from upland developments.

This environmental measure states that Georgia has protected these salt marshlands by strong legislation since 1970, and the growing popularity of our coast as a place to visit and live makes it ever more important that the salt marsh be strongly protected.

The resolution was referred to the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee for it consideration.

On Thursday, a celebration was held at the Capitol recognizing the milestone of 1 million HOPE Scholarship recipients since the inception of the program in 1993. It is truly an outstanding achievement for Georgia to have been able to send a million students to our state’s colleges, universities and technical colleges at no tuition cost. This is a very proud accomplishment for our state and a reminder that we must continue to work diligently to protect HOPE against any attempt to cut, restrict or otherwise derail the program.

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Sears presented the annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint legislative session Wednesday. Chief Justice Sears related, “In the halls of justice throughout the state, I have witnessed first hand first-rate judges, court staff and lawyers working together to provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes, to protect constitutional rights and to uphold the rule of law. Their commitment to Georgia is remarkable and gratifying.”

• Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta) represents the 57th District (Atlanta and DeKalb County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact her at 604 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA  30334; by phone at 404-656-0265 or by e-mail at pat@patgardner.org.