The Washington State Public Health Association has honored three legislators representing portions of Clark County for improving public health.
The three lawmakers received the association’s Elected Officials Awards for their work during the 2019 legislative session.
Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, worked to pass legislation to eliminate the personal belief exemption for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, led efforts to raise the minimum age to purchase and use tobacco to 21, and worked to eliminate the personal belief exemption for children attending schools and day care.
Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, was the prime sponsor of a Senate bill establishing a tax on vaping products to fund cancer research and support local public health.
Madison Langer, a former Ridgefield High School student, also received the association’s Exceptional Student Award for her work against teenage tobacco use. In 2018, she became a youth ambassador for the national Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and was named a Youth Advocate of the Year by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in May.
The awards were presented during the Washington State Public Health Association’s annual conference in Wenatchee last month.
