U.S. Chamber Honors 298 Pro-Business Members of Congress with Spirit of Enterprise Award

Lawmakers Recognized for Supporting America’s Job Creators

WASHINGTON, D.C.—At their office on Capitol Hill today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce honored 248 members of the House and 50 members of the Senate with the annual Spirit of Enterprise Award for their support of pro-jobs, pro-growth policies during the first session of the 112th Congress.

“Faced with difficult choices and high-stakes politics, these men and women provided America’s business community with a strong voice in Congress,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber.  “We honor these members today for having consistently demonstrated their support for America’s job creators.”

The Chamber’s prestigious Spirit of Enterprise Award, in its 24th year, is given annually to members of Congress based on key business issues outlined in the Chamber publication How They Voted.  Members who support the Chamber’s position on at least 70% of those votes qualify to receive the award.

The Chamber scored Congress on 11 Senate and 16 House votes in 2011, including the repeal of 1099 reporting requirements, the 3% withholding from contractors, and the health care law.  Also scored were votes for a surface transportation extension and the free trade agreements, including South Korea and Colombia.

To view a complete list of the 2011 Spirit of Enterprise recipients, please visit www.uschamber.com/soe.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.