Former Rep. Ellen Bard remembered

The late Ellen Bard, who represented Montgomery County's 153d district in the state House for ten years, was remembered in the Capitol today.

Bard, 60, died Oct. 28 of pancreatic cancer in San Francisco.

Her successor in the Abington-area district, Rep. Josh Shapiro, recalled her work as an environmentalist and veterans affairs advocate.

Shapiro, in a condolence resolution, recalled that among Bard's legislative achievements was chairing the Task Force on a 21st Century Energy Policy for Pennsylvania. He said she advanced issues involving alternative energy and energy independence "well before they became part of the mainstream political discourse."

Shapiro noted that Bard sponsored 18 bills during her tenure that were passed into law and that she was especially proud of passing a bill that established the D.A.R.E license plate, based on the drawings and design of Abington students.

Read Bard's obituary here.

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