LANSING – State Representative Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) was named the 2009 Lawmaker of the Year by Clean Water Action (CWA) on Wednesday at the Great Lakes Awards Celebration. The prestigious award is one of seven given statewide honoring prominent lawmakers, citizens, leaders and volunteers who work to protect our state's national treasures and create a clean energy economy for Michigan.
"Michigan's natural resources have suffered under the current budget crisis, but Representative Warren can always be counted on to protect our water, air and the many special places that define Michigan," said Cyndi Roper, Michigan Clean Water Action executive director.
Warren earned the honor for reaching across the aisle to negotiate several pressing issues, including a bill to keep Michigan's wetlands program under state authority and the landmark Great Lakes Compact legislation, which effectively banned the diversion of Great Lakes water from outside the basin. Throughout her tenure, she also has been a leader in efforts to reduce out-of-state and Canadian trash, and to protect children from toys and household products that contain toxic chemicals.
Warren, who is serving her second term as State Representative, was appointed Chair the Great Lakes and Environment Committee as a freshman legislator in 2007 and reappointed in 2009. She also is active in the National Council of Environmental Legislators and co-chairs the Recycling Caucus.
CWA is the state's largest environmental organization, widely known throughout Michigan for its ability to mobilize public support for environmental and public health policies.
"Clean Water Action is an organization known for its steadfast convictions and staunch advocacy on behalf of our pristine natural resources," Warren said. "They are the standard bearer who can always be counted on to hold legislators accountable for our votes. To be selected as their lawmaker of the year is an esteemed honor that I pledge to continue to earn throughout the rest of my tenure."