Rep. Johnson's service to region lands award

May 9, 2005

SPRINGFIELD- U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson received the "Vince Demuzio Legislator of the Year Award" recently from the Illinois Community Action Association, a partnership of community service agencies from throughout Illinois.

The award is named for the late state Senate Majority Leader Vince Demuzio, and was presented by his successor and widow, Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville.

Rep. Johnson was nominated for the award by the Embarras River Basin Agency, a community action agency that serves low-income citizens in the southern portion of the 15th Congressional District. Local community action agencies in the 15th Congressional District, of which there are seven, received $2.67 million in federal Community Service Block Grant funds in 2004.

Rep. Johnson said a total of 46,467 people in 28,625 households received direct assistance from CSBG. That included 1,559 veterans, 8,690 disabled persons and 23,183 elderly persons.

"These people need a voice, too, and ICAA has emerged as that unifying voice for the social service advocates and those they serve in Illinois ," Rep. Johnson said. "I am humbled and grateful for this recognition. In these times of competing interests and partisan polarization, I'm honored by the award but fully cognizant that the battle is far from over."

The award was presented in conjunction with the ICAA's annual conference, "Defining the Future," at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield.

Last year's legislative award winner was U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.