State delegate Brian Moran (D-46), the Virginia House Democratic Caucus chairman, accepted the Child Advocate of the Year award at the Virginia PTAs annual banquet in Portsmouth on Oct. 28.
There is no more important measure of the success of a society than how we treat those at the dawn of their life, Moran said. Thats why we provide protections for and make investments in Virginias children. Ive been proud to partner with the Virginia PTA on important issues affecting Virginias children and am deeply honored to receive this distinguished award. We have great challenges ahead of us as a Commonwealth but I am confidant we can meet those challenges if we continue to put our kids first.
Moran was the leading House proponent for the largest investment in K-12 education in Virginia history. He has also worked to reduce underage drinking and driving by making drunk driving a felony. In addition, he has fought to expand healthcare coverage to every child in the Commonwealth.
Del. Morans legislative record shows his devotion to the children of the Commonwealth, leading the way on issues that have had a true positive impact on their health, education and welfare, said Diane Florence, president of the Virginia PTA. He has earned the distinction of a friend of education and is a very deserving recipient of the Virginia PTA 2007 Child Advocate of the Year award.
Moran was twice named Legislator of the Year by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, received the National Commission Against Drunk Driving award and the Washington Regional Alcohol Programs Public Policy award for his work to reduce underage drinking and driving. For more than a decade, he has served on the advisory board of Stop Child Abuse now and led the fight to keep sexual predators off school grounds.
Moran joins a group of individuals who have been past recipients of the Child Advocate of the Year award. These include: Virginia Sen. John Chichester; Virginia State Board of Education Chairman and former Virginia Del. Thomas M. Jackson, Jr; former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner; Virginia Del. Jim Dillard and Virginia Del. Panny Rhodes.
Carla Branch
