Senators, Representatives Receive Annual Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce today announced 286 lawmakers had pro-business voting records in the first session of the 107th Congress, during the Chamber's 14th annual "Spirit of Enterprise" award reception on Capitol Hill.

"The award winners know that pro-business policies are crucial to the fight for economic recovery," said U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas Donohue. "With Congress nearly evenly divided, building support among lawmakers — and electing pro-growth candidates — is vital to businesses and their workers."

The Chamber ranks members of Congress for key business votes, set out in its annual publication, How They Voted. Votes included in the rankings are Chamber-designated "key votes" — recorded floor votes on pro-business issues on which the Chamber communicates its position prior to the vote.

Members of Congress who support the Chamber's position on at least 70% of key votes receive the annual Spirit of Enterprise award. Key 2001 votes included tax relief, ergonomics, international trade, legal and regulatory reform, transportation, and energy.

"The U.S. Chamber will fight hard in every legislative session to make sure that the business community is heard," said Donohue. "We will fight for open markets overseas, for more reasoned regulations, for tax relief and for tort reform — we will fight for measures that promote economic growth and prosperity."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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