The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday announced that U.S. Senator Doug Jones, D-Alabama, was awarded both its Jefferson–Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship and the Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award.
Only two senators won both honors this year. The awards recognize members of Congress who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward. The announcement came during the First Annual U.S. Chamber of Commerce Governing with Distinction Ceremony.
“My number one priority is to improve the lives of folks in Alabama, and the best way to do that is to work across party lines to create jobs and to grow and protect our economy,” Senator Jones said. “Since I was sworn into the Senate in 2018, over a dozen of my bipartisan pieces of legislation have been signed into law because I’ve always tried to put common sense over political party. I’m grateful to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for recognizing the value of bipartisanship and good policy, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work across the aisle to pass legislation that will improve the lives of Alabamians.”
The Chamber awards the Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship to senators and members of Congress who demonstrate a willingness to work across the aisle in support of common objectives, and the Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award to senators and members of Congress who have demonstrated the leadership critical to advancing policies that support America’s free enterprise system. This is the inaugural year for both awards.
“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,” said U.S. Chamber President Suzanne Clark. “These awards honor the deserving members of Congress that are forging common-sense 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.”
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.
Doug Jones was elected to the Senate in a special election in 2017. He narrowly defeated Chief Justice Roy Moore (R) to become the first Democratic U.S. Senator from Alabama, since his mentor Howell Heflin in 1996.
Doug Jones is a former U.S. Attorney who was appointed by Pres. Bill Clinton (D). Jones is a former Heflin aide. He lives in Mountain Brook and spent over a decade in private practice after leaving government service. His career as U.S. Attorney is probably best remembered for his successful prosecution of two former KKK members for the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham back during the Civil Rights Movement era.
He faces a tough re-election battle this year against either former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville or former U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions.
