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San Francisco, CA –The California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) has selected Congresswoman Susan Davis as a 2008 Legacy Award recipient, and will present her award on Wednesday, August 13, during a legislative reception in San Diego, CA. Every year, CSPF grants the Legacy Award to legislative leaders who have made protection and preservation of California's state parks a priority in their policy work. Congresswoman Davis is the first federal elected official to receive this honor.
"Congresswoman Davis has illustrated her strong commitment to the California state parks system," declared Elizabeth Goldstein, president of CSPF. "We commend Congresswoman Davis for her leadership to protect San Onofre State Beach from a proposed toll road that would slice through the middle of the 5th most visited California state park."
CSPF is honoring Congresswoman Davis for her legislative efforts to remove a federal exemption for the Transportation Corridor Agencies. The TCA, an Orange County-based toll road construction agency, sought an exemption from California's environmental laws and a streamlined approval and regulatory process for its controversial 16-mile Foothill South toll road. Congresswoman Davis' amendment passed as part of the Defense Authorization Act (HR 4986).
Additionally, Endangered Habitats League will be presenting Congresswoman Davis their Award of Excellence recognizing her dedication to protecting fragile ecosystems.
On April 7, 2008, CSPF recognized the California Legislative Black Caucus and Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) with its 2008 Legacy Awards at its Park Advocacy Day held at the Capitol in Sacramento. CSPF honored the California Black Legislative Caucus for its diligent work to protect Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, located in Fresno, Calif., from proposed mega-dairies that would have negatively impacted the park. CSPF also recognized Senator Kehoe's efforts to ensure that state parks are protected, including her 2007 legislation to preserve state wilderness areas located within state parks and to create a stringent process for any efforts to de-designate such areas.
Previous California State Parks Foundation Legacy Award winners include State Senator Don Perata (2007), Assembly Member Pedro Nava (2007), Assembly Member Tom Harman (2006), State Senator Wesley Chesbro (2006), Assembly Member John Laird (2005), State Senator Denise Ducheny (2005), Assembly Member Fran Pavley (2004), State Senator Tom Torlakson (2004) and State Senator Sheila Kuehl (2003).
About California State Parks Foundation
With more than 95,000 members, the California State Parks Foundation is the only independent nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing and advocating for California's magnificent state parks. For more information about California's state parks, visit www.calparks.org.
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