ATLANTA (June 14, 2010) – State Sen. Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale) has recently been named Legislator of the Year by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Georgia Chapter for her continuing efforts to improve disability rights in Georgia. She was honored in Atlanta during The Political Side of MS, an annual event organized by the National MS Society.
“Georgia’s disabled and critical need population often depends on a variety of state services, and it’s my duty as a legislator to create policies that serve their specific needs and help make their daily lives a little easier. It’s been an honor to work on behalf of these resilient citizens, and I look forward to a continued partnership with Georgia’s National MS chapter to meet their needs,” said Seay. “I’m privileged to receive such a high honor from this distinguished organization; their research and advocacy has truly made a difference in the lives of those affected by MS.”
A long-time advocate of increasing disability support in Georgia, Seay has championed numerous initiatives in the state legislature to improve disabled and long-term care services. In 2009, Seay authored Senate Bill 25 to give Georgia taxpayers the option to contribute to an MS research fund through income tax check-offs. The bill was added to House Bill 1272 this year, of which Seay was an ardent supporter and won widespread support in both the Senate and House. She also worked to ensure passage of a referendum to allow Clayton County voters to establish a funding source for C-TRAN, a public transit system that serves hundreds of disabled and elderly citizens. While the governor decided to veto the tax check-off bill, the C-TRAN referendum was signed into law earlier this month.
Seay was also a prominent figure in the fight against legislation in both 2007 and 2009 to ban embryonic stem cell research in Georgia, which would have critically harmed Georgia’s research initiatives for diseases, including MS.
“In the Georgia Senate, no one has done more to lead the charge of the Multiple Sclerosis movement than Senator Valencia Seay and we are beyond elated to award our State Legislator of the Year Award for 2010 to Senator Seay for her stalwart advocacy related to transportation, research, and disability rights; not only for her constituents in the 34th district but for the entire MS population in Georgia,” said Roy Rangel, president of the National MS Society Georgia Chapter.
Sen. Valencia Seay represents the 34th Senate District, which includes parts of Clayton and Fayette counties. She can be reached at her office at 404.656.5095 or by e-mail at valencia.seay@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
June 14, 2010
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Kallarin Richards, Senior Communications Specialist
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028