HENRICO, V.A. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger has received the first-ever “Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship” from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne Clark and Chamber Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley presented Spanberger with the award, which is given to the top 10 U.S. Senators and top 20 U.S. House Members — apportioned by party. The award is based on the number of bills a Member cosponsors that were introduced by a Member of the opposite party, except those formally opposed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The announcement was made during the first U.S. Chamber of Commerce Governing with Distinction Ceremony on Tuesday.

“Now more than ever, our nation needs elected leaders like Congresswoman Spanberger who have the courage to pursue common ground and bold, bipartisan solutions to America’s greatest challenges,” said U.S. Chamber President Suzanne Clark. “These awards honor the deserving members of Congress that are forging common-sense solutions, working across the aisle, to enact lasting and meaningful reforms. In the days ahead, Congress must work together and support our nation’s free enterprise principles that will help bring our economy back to strength and put our people back to work.”

“Lawmakers should focus on building strong coalitions, including across the aisle, as they create, draft, and develop effective legislation. From securing increased export opportunities through the USMCA to lowering prescription drug costs for seniors and families, I’ve been proud to support legislation that will benefit communities across the Seventh District — and many of these wins can be traced back to the hard work of broad, bipartisan coalitions,” said Spanberger. “I’d like to thank the U.S. Chamber for their continued commitment to pursuing policies that can help build a brighter future for Central Virginia, and I’m honored to receive their recognition. The people of Central Virginia expect me to work with all Members of the House — regardless of party affiliation — to advocate for policies that will expand opportunity for their businesses and families, and I’m committed to following through on that promise.”

Click here for the full list of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 bipartisanship award winners.

Last month, Spanberger was ranked as one of the top five most bipartisan Democrats in the U.S. House and the most bipartisan Member of the Virginia delegation by the Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. Click here to read their nonpartisan 2019 Bipartisan Index.

BACKGROUND

Since arriving in the U.S. House, Spanberger has prioritized building coalitions with her colleagues across the aisle and advancing legislation on behalf of the people of Virginia’s Seventh District — including through her bipartisan efforts to help pass the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA) in late 2019.

In December 2019, President Trump signed into law Spanberger’s legislation — led alongside U.S. Representative Will Hurd (R-TX-23) — to combat Central American trafficking and smuggling networks and strengthen U.S. border security. Additionally, the President signed into law an amendment introduced by Spanberger and former U.S. Representative Mark Meadows (R-NC-11) to help the Department of Defense stop the use of its internet networks to possess, deliver, or obtain child pornography.

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