Washington,
Feb 10, 2005 -
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) awarded Rep. Jim Gerlach Wednesday with its Friend of the National Parks award based on his environmentally-friendly voting record during the 108th Congress.
“This is a great honor, and I thank the Association for recognizing my efforts in the last Congress to support the environment, protect our national parks and preserve the quality of life in southeastern Pennsylvania,” Rep. Gerlach said.
The Friend of the National Parks award was established in 1999 to track and publicize congressional members’ votes on significant national park issues. Congressman Gerlach was one of 47 senators and 191 representatives in the 108th Congress to receive the award.
“Our imperiled national parks need attention—and Americans recognize that this is not a red-state or blue-state issue. Instead, these honored members of Congress represent a bi-partisan group that has a solid commitment to preserving the country’s national parks for future generations,” said NPCA President Thomas Kiernan. “Senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle punctuated their words with votes in support of restoring and preserving our national parks.”
Recipients of the award receive a framed reproduction of a 1930s Works Progress Administration poster with a plaque that reads “Friend of the National Parks, 108th Congress” with the NPCA logo. The national park featured in this year’s historical poster is Mount Rainier.
