Ohio Congressman Bill Johnson Receives Award from Development District Association of Appalachia

WASHINGTON, March 23, 2015—U.S. Congressman Bill Johnson of Ohio received the Development District Association of Appalachia's (DDAA) 2015 Congressional Award today at the DDAA annual conference in Arlington, Virginia.

The Congressional Award is presented each year by the DDAA to a member of Congress for outstanding service to the people of Appalachia and support of the work of the Appalachian Region's local development districts and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Local development districts nominate candidates for the award, and the DDAA board makes the final selection.

Johnson, who represents eastern and southeastern Ohio, serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which plays a key role in developing America's energy, health care, and telecommunications policies while also providing oversight of implementation of these laws. Johnson also serves on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

The DDAA award expressed deep appreciation and gratitude for Johnson's "strong support of the Appalachian Regional Commission and its programs" and for his "dedicated service to the people of the 13-state Appalachian Region, and especially those citizens residing in the Sixth Congressional District of Ohio."

The DDAA is a public, nonprofit organization made up of Appalachia's 73 multicounty planning and development districts. Its members work closely with ARC, other federal and state agencies, and local residents to identify and address economic development needs and opportunities in their communities.