Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE – February 27, 2008
Contact: BRIAN PERRY: 601-932-4647

PICKERING HONORED FOR DEDICATED SERVICE TO APPALACHIA
Development District Association of Appalachia honors Pickering with its 2008 Congressional Award

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Chip Pickering received the 2008 Congressional Award from the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA) last night at an awards ceremony in Arlington, Virginia.  Pickering serves as co-chair of the Congressional Appalachian Caucus.

The DDAA presented the award for Pickering’s “dedicated service” to the people of the Appalachian Region. Anne Pope, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, praised Pickering for his support of the Commission’s economic development work, “Congressman Pickering has been quick to be an advocate for ARC with his House colleagues.  Whether it’s helping communities respond to the dislocation caused by Hurricane Katrina, or promoting a major industrial park at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, or working to maintain short-line railroads in his district, Congressman Pickering emphasizes the need for communities to think regionally in seizing economic opportunities.”

Pickering said there was “much to be thankful for” and expressed gratitude to the ARC and local development district officials for rallying to Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. “Rebuilding, recovery, restoring, having a mission of restoration” is what ARC is all about, Pickering said.

Twenty-four counties in Mississippi are served by the Appalachian Regional Commission: Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Itawamba, Kemper, Lee, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Webster, Winston, and Yalobusha

The DDAA presents their Congressional Award annually to a member of Congress for outstanding service to the people of Appalachia and support of the work of the local development districts and ARC. Local development districts nominate potential recipients, and the DDAA board makes the final selection.

The DDAA is a public, nonprofit organization made up of Appalachia's 72 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.

Chip Pickering represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District and serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  This is his sixth term.