Thursday, June 25, 2009

Arkansas Volunteers Conduct Thank You Tour


Left to right Wonder Lowe, Paige,Laine & Kristi Pennebaker and Valarie Wade
Pictured left to right Kristi Pennebaker, Senator Steele, Laine and Paige Pennebaker.



Volunteers from the American Heart Association dropped by State Senators Tracy Steele’s office on a Thank You Tour, June 25th. The Tour implemented by volunteer and Central Arkansas Board members Wonder Lowe, Kristi Pennebaker and her two young daughters Laine and Paige, and Valarie Wade was designed to thank state decision makers for their work on behalf of the citizens of Arkansas with regards to heart disease and stroke healthcare.

Senator Tracy Steele was the lead sponsor on the state tobacco tax increase. The revenue from the 56 cent increase is designated to fund a statewide trauma system, community health centers and numerous other healthcare initiatives set forth in Governor Beebe’s healthcare plan for the state. Included in the money is some $300,000 for a statewide stroke registry that will help determine the states needs with regards to stroke treatment and emergency response. Steele was also the lead sponsor on a bill to require all public schools in the state to have on campus an automated external defibrillator ( AED) and school personnel trained in CPR by May 2011.

The Antony Hobbs, III AED CPR Act of 2009, was named in honor of a young basketball player Antony Hobbs, III who died during a Parkview High School Basketball game in January of 2008 due of sudden cardiac arrest. Steele also secured $1 million dollars to help fund the placement and training and the revenue will be generated from the 56 cent tobacco tax..

Steele continues to move heart and stroke legislation through the process to make Arkansas a healthier place to live and work. In the past Steele was the lead sponsor on a bill to address stroke the state’s third leading cause of death and worked to pass the state Clean Indoor air bill that make all public places including restaurants smoke free.

The tour will include state and federal legislators in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Benton, Bryant, Conway and Newport between now and July 15th . Watch for other Tour events on this blog spot. If you have questions on any of the legislation addressed call or e-mail Barbara Kumpe, AR Government Relations Director - 501-379-1182 or barbarra.kumpe@heart.org

0 comments:

 

You're the Cure-Arkansas. Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved Revolution Two Church theme by Brian Gardner Converted into Blogger Template by Bloganol dot com