Congresswoman Matsui Honored with AARP 2010 Legislative Leadership Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Honored with AARP 2010 Legislative Leadership Award
CA Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) was presented with an AARP 2010 Legislative Leadership Award on Tuesday for her work to champion legislation to improve the lives of Americans age 50-plus and their families. Congresswoman Matsui was honored with the Transportation Award, specifically for her efforts to ensure communities have safe mobility and transportation options for older Americans.
AARP Associate State Director of Advocacy Nina Weiler-Harwell presented the award to Congresswoman Matsui during a ceremony with local AARP members at her district office in Sacramento. Weiler-Harwell and her colleagues thanked the Congresswoman for her leadership, and underscored the organization's commitment to recognizing legislators who work to improve the lives of older Americans.
We want to thank Congresswoman Matsui for her work in the 111th Congress on initiatives to make streets safer for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders, and help older Americans maintain independence and stay connected to their communities, said AARP California State Director Tom Porter.
The Congressional Awards program recognizes the leadership role lawmakers have taken on important issues that effect our millions of members and all older Americans, Porter continued. We re proud to present these awards to members of Congress who have done so much in the past year to champion safe transportation and mobility options for older Americans.
Congresswoman Matsui introduced the Complete Streets Act of 2009 in the 111th Congress, which is designed to ensure that future transportation investments made by state departments of transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) create appropriate and safe transportation facilities for all those using the nation's roads motorists, transit vehicles and riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The legislation would require states and MPO's to adopt complete street policies for federally-funded projects within two years of enactment. Congresswoman Matsui will be reintroducing the Complete Streets Act of 2011 in the coming weeks.
I am grateful to AARP for this recognition, and am committed to continuing to work to implement policies that benefit our seniors, Congresswoman Matsui said. Complete streets policies help make streets safe for everyone, including children, disabled and older people, and public transportation patrons. They are critical for ensuring that roads are designed and updated to allow all users of a given right-of-way to travel safely and conveniently.
A picture of the Congresswoman receiving her award is available here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorismatsuica05/5550802527/
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