BOCA RATON — State Representative Bill Hager (R-Boca Raton) was recently honored as the American Cancer Society’s 2011 Freshman of the Year in the Florida House of Representatives.
Hager, who was elected to his first term last fall, is being recognized for his successful efforts to give school boards the authority to ban smoking on school grounds.
Representative Bill Hager is shown speaking to American Cancer Society volunteers
Hager expressed appreciation for the honor, saying, “Exposure to toxins in second hand smoke can cause serious health issues such as asthma, cancer and heart disease, and that exposure can be prevented.”
Given that tobacco use accounts for nearly one-third of all cancer deaths Representative Hager chose to file legislation to grant statutory authority to school boards to address smoking on campus. “I am humbled by this recognition and award,” said Hager. “But I can accept it only as a proxy on behalf of all the outstanding volunteers and others who labor tirelessly on a daily basis to stamp out all forms of cancer.”
“Representative Hager has had an immediate impact on the war on cancer,” said Paul Hull, the Florida Division’s Vice President for Advocacy and Public Policy. “He recognized a shortcoming in state law that left Florida’s kids at significant public health risk, and he met the issue head on. He clearly stood out to us among the House Freshman class this year.”
The Award was presented at the American Cancer Society’s Annual Relay for Life Summit attended by nearly 1,000 American Cancer Society volunteers.