State Reps. Aaron Miller and Eric Leutheuser recently presented a legislative tribute to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency in the Capitol rotunda after the agency was recognized with an award during National Health Week.

Miller and Leutheuser presented the tribute to Rebecca Burns, health officer for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph County, and Jim Cook, emergency preparedness coordinator for the tri-county agency, after they received the Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion Award.

The award was presented to the agency for achieving Project Public Health Ready status, a national criteria-based public health preparedness program in which the agency worked with community partners to develop and enhance preparedness plans.

“This tri-county health agency deserves accolades for achieving this high standard of preparedness to better serve the residents of Branch, Hillsdale and St. Joseph counties,” Miller, R-Sturgis, said. “The award they earned today is recognition by their peers, and this tribute is in appreciation for the hard work they do to address the health issues of our communities.”

Leutheuser, R-Hillsdale, said he was pleased to see the tri-county organization honored on a state and national level with the award.

“Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has set a high standard in serving the communities in southern Michigan,” Leutheuser said. “This honor is another example of what we already know — This organization has a genuine commitment to serving the residents of our region in the best possible way, and I offer my congratulations on this recognition of their work.”