Senate Leadership
June 8, 2006
Williams Receives Award From American Academy of Pediatrics
Group cites landmark School Nutrition Bill
State Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) received the Martha Leonard Award from the Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics at the groups annual meeting held last night at the Rocky Hill Marriot. The award is given "to a member of the community who has worked in a legislative way to accomplish positive achievement in children's advocacy."
Dr. Robert Zavoski, president of the Connecticut chapter of AAP said of Sen. Williams, "Your dedication to the school nutrition bill has had and will continue to have an enormous effect on children and their health."
In the 2006 session of the General Assembly, Sen. Williams spearheaded passage of the historic School Nutrition Bill that bans soda and other sugary drinks while providing incentives for school districts to choose healthy food and snacks for their students.
Sen. Williams noted that the pediatricians were instrumental in building support for the bill. "I am honored to receive this special award from the Connecticut chapter of the AAP," Sen. Williams said. "At the same time, I want to recognize the important work the doctors did in getting the public to understand the importance of the bill. On several occasions we relied on the pediatricians-particularly Dr. Zavoski-to provide the expert opinions and the scientific facts about the importance of the bill and the realization that overweight children can face severe health problems. Studies show these children have increased risks of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease."
|
Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
