WASHINGTON - The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) has recognized U.S Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl for their leadership in winning an extension for Wisconsin's popular senior drug coverage program, SeniorCare. Earlier this year, Kohl and Feingold negotiated for inclusion of a two and a half year extension for the program in a Senate spending bill, preserving the successful drug benefit for 103,000 low-income seniors across the state.

“Senators Kohl and Feingold went above and beyond the call of duty to save Senior Care,” said Tom Frazier, CWAG’s Executive Director.

“It is truly an honor to receive the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups’ President’s Award of 2007 for helping to protect SeniorCare. Ever since my days in the Wisconsin State Senate, I have been committed to helping our seniors maintain their health and independence. The extension of SeniorCare is an important victory for Wisconsin seniors. Preserving the program would never have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of the Coalition. I look forward to continuing our work together for years to come to ensure the well-being of Wisconsin’s seniors,” Feingold said.

“Saving SeniorCare was a very tall order which is why it took the entire delegation working together to get the job done,” Kohl said. “CWAG and its thousands of members across the state were so important to the effort. I commend their work and look forward to working with them on many more issues facing our seniors in the years to come.”

Wisconsin’s senators were awarded the CWAG President’s Award last night at the group’s Governing Board Banquet in Madison. The group bestows the award to “those who have done outstanding work for Wisconsin’s seniors during the year.” Kohl and Feingold accepted the award from Washington, DC as the Senate schedule did not allow them to attend the dinner.

CWAG also recognized George Potaracke, the retiring Wisconsin State Ombudsman and Director of the Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care, with the Al Hirsch Advocacy Award.

For more information on CWAG please visit www.cwag.org/.