St. Joseph Congressman Fred Upton has always touted his ability to reach across the aisle and work with members of both political parties to accomplish things together and his drive down that path has resulted in his selection as one of only 30 American legislators to receive the first-ever Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship from the United States Chamber of Commerce.
Upton joins 19 other members of the U.S. House and 10 U.S. Senators in receiving the inaugural award, cited for his longtime commitment to working across the aisle to address the nation’s toughest challenges and pursue shared priorities. This is the first year that the Chamber has organized the award to recognize bipartisan leadership and effective governance in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
Upton received a 97-percent bipartisan score, according to the Chamber.
For his part Upton says, “When the two parties work together in Washington, the result is solutions that win for the American people. That’s why it is such an honor to receive the Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship along with a number of my colleagues.” Upton argues, “To continue moving our country forward, we need to come together – Democrats and Republicans alike. I’ve long said that folks here in southwest Michigan don’t care if you have an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ next to your name – they just want you to work in the best interest of their families and communities. That’s what I have always done and always will do.”
U.S. Chamber President Suzanne Clark says, “Now more than ever, our nation needs elected leaders with the courage to pursue common ground and bold, bipartisan solutions to America’s greatest challenges,” and adds, “These awards honor the deserving members of Congress like Rep. Upton that are forging common-sense solutions, working across the aisle to enact lasting and meaningful reforms.”
Upton is a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats that meets weekly to find common ground on some of the nation’s toughest issues. 12 out of the 20 winners are part of the Problem Solvers Caucus.
In 2017, Upton was recognized by the Detroit News as their “Michiganian of the Year,” along with his Problem Solvers Caucus colleague Rep. Debbie Dingell, for “being a dealmaker for both sides.”
Click the link below to learn more about the Chamber’s Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship:
