erson ▁was ▁presented ▁with ▁the ▁Cong r essional ▁Part ners hip ▁Award ▁by ▁the ▁National ▁Association ▁of ▁Development ▁Organ izations . ▁Pet erson ▁was ▁also ▁named ▁Pol ic ym aker ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁by ▁the ▁Association ▁for ▁Career ▁and ▁Techn ical ▁Education , ▁and ▁was ▁hon ored ▁by ▁the ▁National ▁R ural ▁Health ▁Association ▁as ▁their ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁Legisl ator ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁for ▁his ▁efforts ▁to ▁improve ▁Medic are ▁fund ing ▁for ▁rural ▁hosp it als , ▁n urs ing ▁homes ▁and ▁other ▁health ▁care ▁prov iders . ▁ ▁Pet erson ▁has ▁been ▁recognized ▁by ▁numerous ▁other ▁organizations ▁including ▁the ▁National ▁Association ▁of ▁Community ▁Health ▁Cent ers , ▁the ▁Pennsylvania ▁Association ▁of ▁Home ▁Health ▁A gen cies , ▁the ▁Sen iors ▁Co al ition , ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Chamber ▁of ▁Com merce , ▁the ▁National ▁Association ▁of ▁Man ufact ur ers , ▁the ▁National ▁Federation ▁of ▁Independent ▁Business es , ▁Americans ▁for ▁Tax ▁Reform , ▁the ▁Association ▁of ▁Cons ult ing ▁Forest ers , ▁and ▁the ▁Pennsylvania ▁Rec re ation ▁and ▁Park s ▁Society . ▁ ▁Pet erson ▁has ▁been ▁married ▁to ▁his ▁wife , ▁Sau nd ra , ▁for ▁more ▁than ▁ 3 0 ▁years . ▁They ▁have ▁a ▁son ▁and ▁two ▁grand d augh ters . ▁Pet erson ▁is ▁a ▁Method ist . ▁ ▁Environment al ▁record ▁Pet erson ▁received ▁the ▁lowest ▁possible ▁environmental ▁rating ▁from ▁the ▁League ▁of ▁Conserv ation ▁V ot ers ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁casting ▁what ▁the ▁group