Harper Honered for Enviromental Committment

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts recently awarded Kate Harper with the 2011 Legislator Recognition Award for her “her distinguished environmental excellence,” the group said in a release.

“Representative Harper has time and time again proven to be a true champion of our efforts to protect, sustain and enhance our natural resources,” President of PACD MaryAnn Warren said in a release. “Her support of our local conservation efforts, as well as actively pursuing tough environmental safeguards in Harrisburg, has demonstrated that Representative Harper understands the needs of her constituents, as well as all Pennsylvanians, for a clean, thriving and healthy environment.”

The group said in a statement that it supported Harper’s recently introduced legislation that provides for a natural gas severance tax, with a portion of the revenue to go to conservation districts. This funding, if approved, will insure that Pennsylvania’s environment is protected both now and in the future by providing a dedicated funding stream to the conservation districts, the statement said.

“We congratulate Representative Harper on behalf of the sixty-six conservation districts and thank her for providing the resources, tools and voice to our conservation efforts,” Andrew Gilchrist, First Vice President of PACD and Chairman of the Montgomery County Conservation District Board said in a release. “Our association and membership could not be successful delivering on our promise of cleaner air and water for all Pennsylvanians without the service and fortitude of individuals like Representative Harper.”