Rep. Hal Rogers, chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and long­time advocate for his eastern and southern Kentucky congressional district, accepted the 2011 Distinguished Rural Kentuckian Award from the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives on Monday.

The award recognizes Rogers’ solid support for electric co-ops in Congress and his wide-ranging and creative support for improving the quality of life for the people in the 29 counties of the 5th congressional district.

Rogers has served in Congress since 1981 and in 2010 rose to the prominent national position chairing the House Appropriations Committee in an era of unprecedented focus on the federal government spending that is the domain of that committee.

In addition to that key appropriations role, Rogers says his main career focus is to create more jobs in his district so people can thrive there and make a good living. His efforts over the decades have included helping create major flood control projects, improving education through regional scholarships, promoting the regional tourism industry, conducting ongoing drives to reduce drug abuse and beautify the region, and supporting the construction of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset.

The electric co-ops of Kentucky have presented the Distinguished Rural Kentuckian Award annually since 1982 to recognize people who have improved the quality of life in the state. The first recipient was author Jesse Stuart of Greenup. Other recipients include broadcaster Cawood Ledford, Governor A.B. “Happy” Chandler, KET founder O. Leonard Press, rural physician Dr. Louise Caudill, author Wendell Berry, media executive Jim Host, and Senator Wendell Ford.

Rogers accepted the award at a banquet during the 65th annual meeting of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives.

Upon receiving the award, Rogers remarked, "I am honored to join the prestigious roster of Distinguished Rural Kentuckian Award-winners. The Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives has improved the way we communicate about utility issues across the Commonwealth. I commend the electric co-ops for being proactive in educating communities about energy conservation, giving businesses and families innovative ideas to save energy and save money."

The Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, based in Louisville, represents 26 local, user-owned, electric cooperatives, which provide electricity to about one-third of the homes and businesses in the state, covering parts of 117 of the 120 counties in Kentucky.

Rep. Hal Rogers, who represents Kentucky’s 5th congressional district and chairs the powerful Appropriations Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, accepts the 2011 Distinguished Rural Kentuckian Award from the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives at the association’s annual meeting banquet in Louisville Monday night.

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Photo #1 Cutline:

Hal Rogers Recives Distinguished Service Award from Kentucky's Electric Cooperatives 
Photo courtesy KAEC.

*This Press Release was recently released by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives.