Gardner, King, Brooks, Ruiz to Receive BPC's Legislative Action Awards
Washington, D.C.– The Bipartisan Policy Center today announces the four recipients of its 2018 Legislative Action Awards: Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Sen. Angus King (I-ME), Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN), and Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA). The awards are presented annually to members of Congress within their first six years in office who work to build consensus, elevate the tenor of the debate, practice civility, and advance legislation on pressing issues.
The awardees will be honored at a reception on March 14 at the BPC offices in Washington, D.C.
“The 2018 Legislative Action Award recipients embody the spirit of productive partisanship,” said BPC President Jason Grumet. “Through action and achievement, these leaders prove that it is not necessary to compromise principle to achieve bipartisan progress. The members we will honor next week give me optimism about our Congress and the nation.”
The diverse Award Selection Committee is comprised of BPC’s senior leadership and board members, co-chairs of BPC’s Commission on Political Reform, and representatives from businesses and non-profits, who provide their key input in determining our awardees.
Through action and achievement, these leaders prove that it is not necessary to compromise principle to achieve bipartisan progress.
“Putting partisan politics aside and focusing on enacting actual policy solutions for my constituents is one of my top priorities in the Senate,” said Gardner. “I appreciate the Bipartisan Policy Center recognizing my commitment to working across the aisle everyday with people like my Democratic colleague from Colorado Michael Bennet, and hope that in the coming year there are more legislative achievements we can point to that prove the best way to get meaningful things done is through bipartisanship.”
“In today’s Congress, governing through common sense and compromise has too often become an afterthought to partisan politics,” said King. “There are many of us on Capitol Hill who have tried to be good partners and colleagues—working to bring people together to move our country forward—and call me an optimist, but I think it may be spreading. This award is a true honor, and I thank the Bipartisan Policy Center for their recognition.”
“One of the reasons I ran for Congress was to work to restore confidence in the People’s House and those who work in it,” said Brooks. “In order to accomplish that goal, legislators on both sides of the aisle must come together so we can build upon our shared goals to help and support the American people. It is an absolute honor to be recognized by the Bipartisan Policy Center for my commitment to working in a bipartisan manner, and I look forward to continuing fostering bipartisan conversations, negotiations and most importantly solutions to our nation’s problems in Congress.”
“My life mission is to serve others. As an emergency physician, I am devoted to my patients and now as a Congressman I put people above partisanship and solutions over ideology,” said Ruiz. “Since my first day in Congress, I have made it a top priority to work with anyone who has a good idea, Republican or Democrat, to find pragmatic solutions to the challenges facing my constituents and our nation. I am truly humbled that this problem-solving approach has been recognized by the Bipartisan Policy Center and I look forward to continuing to serve my patients and my constituents through thoughtful, bipartisan solutions.”