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BIOGRAPHY

U.S. Senator George Voinovich

"First and Foremost - Ohio Priorities"

His top priority is to meet with Ohioans and learn firsthand their thoughts and needs; therefore, he keeps a busy schedule crisscrossing Ohio to meet with the people he serves. Senator Voinovich also maintains five offices across the state and a joint casework office with Senator Mike DeWine to help Ohioans solve problems with federal agencies and programs.

Children and Families

As a long-time advocate for children, Senator Voinovich has made improving access to early childhood education programs like Head Start a top priority. As governor of Ohio, he made such significant improvements in Head Start that Ohio became the national leader in state support for the program, the national leader in the percentage of eligible children served, and the first state to provide widespread distance learning programs for early childhood educators.

As a U.S. Senator, George Voinovich introduced and the Senate passed legislation to help recruit more Head Start teachers so that the program could be expanded and improved to make sure disadvantaged children have the opportunity to start school ready to learn. He has worked on a bipartisan basis to propose legislation to improve the quality of services for young children, including the quality of the instruction they receive.

To help improve the quality of life for families and children, Senator Voinovich has encouraged federal agencies to better coordinate their human service efforts, especially early childhood development. He championed a similar effort as governor with his successful Families and Children First Initiative, which facilitated inter-agency cooperation to improve family support services.

Fighting for Fiscal Responsibility

Senator Voinovich is well-known for his commitment to fiscal discipline and his efforts to protect taxpayers' hard-earned money. When he became mayor of Cleveland and governor of Ohio, he inherited budgets that were bleeding red. In both instances he brought these budgets back into the black. Soon after his arrival in the Senate, he was recognized for his efforts to bring attention to excessive spending and borrowing and was dubbed the leading "debt hawk" by his colleagues.

He regularly takes to the Senate floor to remind his colleagues of the consequences of excessive spending and pushes for initiatives to improve fiscal discipline. In fact, in 2003 Senator Voinovich played a key role in shaping an economic stimulus package that prevented excessive deficit growth while giving the economy a much-needed boost. The Senate had two tie votes on an economic stimulus package in 2003 that were broken by the Vice President. He would not have had the opportunity to cast these two tie-breaking votes if Senator Voinovich had not first supported cutting taxes to stimulate the economy.

Making America Competitive in a Global Market

Senator Voinovich understands the tough competitive pressures facing American businesses and workers today and has worked to help America succeed in a global marketplace. He is a leader on energy, environmental, health care, trade and lawsuit reform policy and is committed to eliminating the barriers that stand in the way of America's ability to compete.

Senator Voinovich has been a strong proponent of international trade and opening markets around the world to American goods. He recognizes, however, that for trade to flourish, trade must be fair. He has long sought for vigorous enforcement of America's trade laws to help protect American companies from unfair trading practices of certain foreign countries. He has held a series of hearings on the need to improve staffing of the agencies that oversee and enforce America's trade laws and to make stopping unfair trade practices a top priority. He is a proud co-sponsor of several pieces of legislation that would bolster the United States' ability to take action against countries that fail to abide by their trade agreements.

As the Senate's leading critic of China's trade policies, Senator Voinovich has tirelessly sought to get China to protect intellectual property rights. Far too many American companies have had their products counterfeited by companies operating in China. In response to his insistence that this issue be addressed, the Bush Administration announced in October 2004 the Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!). STOP! provides a one-stop shop for American companies that need help protecting their intellectual property rights and seeks to improve the coordination of the various departments and agencies that protect American intellectual property rights abroad. In June 2005, he held hearings on the implementation of STOP!, which included testimony by an Ohio company that had its products counterfeited by a company in China. Senator Voinovich has been a "bull dog" in his work to help Ohio companies that have been the victims of intellectual property theft abroad. During a recent trip to China, Senator Voinovich personally urged China's Premier Wen to support stronger enforcement of intellectual property rights in China and requested his assistance in helping three Ohio companies that had been the victims of intellectual property theft by companies in China.

Senator Voinovich believes that the time has come for China to revalue its exchange rate. The failure of China to appreciate its exchange rate has caused China's currency to be significantly undervalued, giving Chinese exports to the United States an unfair subsidy. American companies should not have to compete against Chinese products with artificially low prices due to the undervalued exchange rate. Senator Voinovich has sponsored legislation to require China to move toward a flexible exchange rate or face tariffs on their exports to the United States that correct for the distortion caused by the exchange rate.

Since his days as governor of Ohio, Senator Voinovich has sought to pass common sense litigation reform. He has sought to stop the "litigation tornado" that ravaged many Ohio companies. He was a co-sponsor of the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, which will prevent abuses of class action lawsuits. He has also co-sponsored asbestos litigation reform legislation to provide for a fair process for plaintiffs to get the compensation they deserve without bankrupting Ohio companies. In addition, he has worked to pass medical malpractice legislation to reduce insurance premiums for doctors and lower health care costs for all Ohioans.

Senator Voinovich has been a champion for manufacturing. Most recently, he sponsored legislation to undo the Sixth Circuit's decision in Cuno v. Daimler Chrysler, which struck down Ohio's machinery and equipment tax credit. Senator Voinovich knows the crucial role tax incentives play in maintaining the competitiveness of America's manufacturing industry and will fight to preserve Ohio's ability to grant tax incentives.

Making sure that manufacturers have continued access to low-cost electricity is critical to Ohio, where manufacturing contributes more than a quarter of the state's Gross State Product and $45 billion in annual payroll. His work on energy policy reform has made him a leader on the issue, and as chairman of the Clean Air, Climate Change and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, he has worked to pass legislation to improve air quality and clarify regulations that encourage businesses to invest in new plants and equipment that improve efficiency.

Improving Government Management and Operations

As mayor and governor, George Voinovich demonstrated his management skills by restoring prosperity and stability to troubled organizations. He has brought that same expertise to the Senate as chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia.

Although government management reform is not an issue that attracts the spotlight, Senator Voinovich believes that improving government efficiency is key to restraining government spending and giving taxpayers the best services for their dollar; therefore, he is working to make sure government programs and systems are well managed.

As chairman, he has made the reform of the federal workforce his top priority. With half of all federal employees eligible for retirement over the coming years, Senator Voinovich is working to make sure this wave of retirements does not undermine our national security and cripple the federal government's ability to provide basic, needed services like Social Security and Medicare. Through aggressive oversight and focused legislative changes, he is working to make sure the federal government has the tools necessary to recruit and retain the skilled employees required to meet our country's changing needs.

In recognition of his dedication to public service and for his efforts and accomplishments on behalf of improving government management and the federal workforce, Senator Voinovich has received numerous awards. These include the prestigious Private Sector Council's Leadership Award (2005); the Jack Niles Award by the Public Employees Roundtable (2004); the Legislative Policy Award for Exceptional Leadership and Service to Federal Employees Award from the Columbus Chapter of Blacks in Government (2002); and an honorary membership in Pi Alpha Alpha from the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (2001).

Recognizing that Congress rarely looks at how much money the federal government has committed to spending over the long term before it makes spending decisions, Senator Voinovich has authored legislation to provide Congress the tools it needs to be more fiscally responsible. This legislation would require the Congressional Budget Office to submit to Congress an estimate of the federal government's long-term liabilities so Congress can realize the full impact of its spending decisions.

Protecting Our Nation, Ensuring Freedom

Senator Voinovich believes that the federal government's first job is to protect its citizens from domestic and international threats. His work on national defense has ranged from making military helicopters safer to helping create the new Department of Homeland Security to shaping our foreign policy. He understands that maintaining our nation's technological edge is key to protecting our citizens, which is why he has been a strong supporter of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and its research labs. Aeronautics has played a key role for both our military and economic security. He has continued to support this critical area by supporting the NASA Glenn Research Center.

Senator Voinovich considers one of his most significant accomplishments in the Senate his victory to enact legislation giving compensation and health care to Cold War-era defense workers made sick from exposure to life-threatening materials. Employees made sick by exposure to radiation, beryllium or silica in the workplace are eligible for $150,000 in lump-sum compensation and lifetime health benefits relating to exposure. Surviving spouses and dependent children of deceased employees also are eligible for the lump-sum compensation of $150,000. Senator Voinovich worked to enact reforms to this program when it became apparent that a part of the program was failing. As a result, the administration of all aspects of the program was moved to the Department of Labor.

Recognizing that stability in Southeast Europe can influence the overall peace and stability of the broader region, Senator Voinovich has become the Senate's leading expert on Southeast European affairs. His work with the Bush Administration and the government of Serbia-Montenegro has been instrumental in helping the country meet requirements for international aid, including cooperating with the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal and upholding the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Senator Voinovich has also paid special attention to the rising problem of anti-Semitism. In 2004, he authored legislation calling on the State Department to strengthen its reporting on global anti-Semitism, the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act, which the President signed in October 2004. Among other things, the bill requires the Secretary of State to submit a report on acts of anti-Semitism around the world and to enhance annual reporting on global anti-Semitism in two existing State Department reports: the International Religious Freedom Report and the Human Rights Report. He has also encouraged the President and Secretary of State to make this a central issue in our bilateral relationships and interaction with international organizations.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, the senator takes an active role in shaping our nation's foreign policy. Also, as a member of NATO's interparliamentary body and the American delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the senator was part of President Bush's official delegation to the 2002 historic Prague conference in which the seven Eastern European nations were invited to join NATO. Further, in 2003 he helped pass the treaty to expand membership in NATO to include Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, and then joined the President and 10 representatives of Ohio's nationality communities at an afternoon White House ceremony highlighting passage of the treaty and honoring the new Alliance members.

Harmonizing Energy and Environmental Needs

The nation must harmonize its environmental, energy and economic needs. This belief is evident in the work Senator Voinovich has done on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and as chairman of the Clean Air, Climate Change and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee. As chairman, Senator Voinovich is committed to providing strong protection for public health and the environment, while protecting our nation's economic prosperity by ensuring a clean, plentiful and affordable energy supply. He introduced the President's Clear Skies bill to reduce power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury by 70 percent by 2018 and has worked hard with the other side of the aisle to get the bill passed.

He is also working to ensure that our nuclear power is safe. Nuclear power plays a critical role in meeting our nation's energy, economic and environmental needs. Ensuring that our nuclear power plants are safe and secure is absolutely essential if we plan to continue – and hopefully increase – our nation's use of this valuable energy source. The EPW Committee has been very busy on nuclear issues this year under Senator Voinovich's leadership. Joining with the chairman of the Committee, Jim Inhofe, he introduced the Nuclear Safety and Security Act of 2005, which includes provisions that the NRC has requested for many years on weapons, fingerprinting and federal crimes. The senator also introduced the Nuclear Fees Reauthorization Act of 2005 (S.858), which contains numerous NRC authorization, reforms, and human capital provisions, and the Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 2005 (S.865) to reauthorize the Price-Anderson Act, which for 45 years has provided a framework of liability protection for the public should a nuclear accident occur. All three bills were passed by the EPW Committee in early June, and Senator Voinovich is working with his colleagues to have them enacted into law as soon as possible.

Most Recently, Senator Voinovich introduced the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2005. Reducing diesel emissions is pivotal to the nation's effort to improve air quality. On-road heavy duty diesel vehicles, such as transit buses and garbage trucks, and non-road diesel vehicles, such as construction equipment and tractors, account for roughly one-half of the nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions from mobile sources nationwide. These emissions contribute to ozone formation and fine particulate matter, and they contain numerous other chemicals that are listed by EPA as hazardous air pollutants. Developed with environmental, industry, and public officials, the legislation complements Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations now being implemented that address diesel fuel and new diesel engines. The legislation will further reduce harmful emissions from existing diesel engines by distributing more than $1 billion over 5 years to establish voluntary national grant and loan programs for diesel emissions reduction projects and programs that improve air quality and protect public health. The bill will significantly help areas come into attainment for the new air quality standards. Senator Voinovich proposed the bill as an amendment to the energy bill, and it passed by a vote of 92 to 1.

Charting a New Course as Governor

This was the beginning of a wave of reforms of state government he led that saw state spending curbed and budgetary growth held to its lowest rate in 30 years. Voinovich also established a rainy-day fund of almost $1 billion and enacted tax reductions for three straight years, including a 10 percent cut in 1998 for a total of $24 billion. He helped end the era of welfare dependence in Ohio by leading the nation in providing job training to welfare recipients. As a result, more than 362,000 were able to leave welfare and find jobs.

Under the Voinovich Administration, Ohio's unemployment rate fell to a 25-year low, more than 641,000 new jobs were created and the state was ranked first in the nation by Site Selection magazine for new and expanded business facilities. Voinovich also transformed Ohio's Bureau of Workers' Compensation from a bloated and expensive program that failed injured workers and hindered new job creation into a lean, well-managed service responsive to injured workers and employers. In so doing, he saved Ohio businesses and local governments more than $4 billion. His service as governor, his dedication to the citizens of Ohio, and his ability to lead people to give their all earned him Governing magazine's "Public Official of the Year” award for 1995.

Architect of the Cleveland Turn-Around

He responded to this call for help and quickly put in place a unique system of public-private partnerships drawing upon the city's best minds to rebuild city government and restore Clevelanders' trust—and pride. The coalition that Voinovich led brought the city back from the brink and today, thanks to the continued efforts of its leaders, Cleveland thrives, validating Voinovich's first motto: "Together we can do it."

His work as mayor earned him praise from the National Urban Coalition and City and State magazine. Under his leadership, Cleveland was the only city in America to be named an "All-America City" three times in a five-year period.

God's Greatest Gift

George Voinovich calls Janet, his wife of 43 years, God's greatest blessing on him. Together, they have three children, George, Betsy and Peter, and seven grandchildren.

Committee and Subcommittee Assignments

• Chairman of the Select Committee on Ethics

• Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia

• Committee on Environment & Public Works; Chairman, Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change and Nuclear Safety.

• Committee on Foreign Relations.

Career in Public Service

U.S. Senator, 1999-present

Governor, State of Ohio, 1990-1998

Chairman, National Governors Association-1997-1998
Chairman, Republican Governors Association-1992-1993
Chairman, Council of Great Lakes Governors-1992-1994
Chairman, Midwestern Governors Conference-1992
Chairman, Jobs for America 's Graduates Program-1995-1997
Vice Chairman, National Governors Association-1996-1997
National Governors Association Executive Committee-1993-1998

Co-Lead Governor for Federalism, National Governors Association-1993-1995
Co-Chairman, National Governors Association Task Force on Education-1992-1993
Chairman, National Governors Association Education Action Team on School Readiness-1991-1992
Chairman, National Governors Association Child Support Enforcement Work Group-1991-1992
Vice Chairman, National Governors Association Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety-1991-1992
National Governors Association Committee on Human Resources-1991-1998

Mayor, City of Cleveland, 1979-1988

Trustee, U.S. Conference of Mayors President, National League of Cities-1985

Board Member, National League of Cities-1981-1989

Lieutenant Governor, State of Ohio, 1979

Commissioner, Cuyahoga County,1977-1978

Auditor, Cuyahoga County, 1971-1976

Member, Ohio House of Representatives, 1967-1971

Education

Ohio University, 1958, Bachelor of Arts in Government

Ohio State University, College Of Law, 1961

Ohio University, 1981, Honorary Doctorate of Law

University of Findlay, 1993, Honorary Doctorate of Public Administration

Cleveland State University, 2004, Honorary Doctorate of Law

Awards: 1999-Present

Economic Development & Fiscal Responsibility

• The National Association of Railroad Passengers presented Senator Voinovich with the George Falcon Golden Spike Award for his working "hard to secure for states the right to invest their federal transportation funds on intercity passenger rail projects." April 27, 2000
• Taxpayers for Common Sense rate Senator Voinovich's voting record on cutting wasteful spending and promoting fiscal responsibility. August 10, 2000
• National Federation of Independent Business names Senator Voinovich "Guardian of Small Business" for his voting record on behalf of small-business owners. September 21, 2000
• Watchdogs of the Treasury presented the "Golden Bulldog Award" for his activities supporting realistic federal spending and controlling runaway debt. October 11, 2000
• National Association of Manufacturers presented the "NAM Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence." October 30, 2000
• National Taxpayers' Union gave Senator Voinovich an "A" and ranked him third in the U.S. Senate for his strong support of responsible tax and spending policies. 2001
• Named "Great Lakes Senator of the Year" by the Great Lakes Shipping–Lake Carriers Association. May 1, 2001
• Concord Coalition honored Senator Voinovich for his fiscally responsible votes during the second session of the 106th Congress. Voinovich finished at the top of the list for votes designed to keep the federal government on a fiscally responsible course. May 11, 2001
• The Ohio Farm Bureau presented Senator Voinovich with the "Friend of the Farm Bureau" award for his voting record supporting initiatives important to Ohio's farming community. 2002
• Soaring Eagle Award presented by the Coalition to Preserve Retirement Security for outstanding leadership in protecting public employees' retirement funds. February 5, 2002
• ARC Award presented by the Development District Association of Appalachia for "Senator Voinovich's commitment and strong support of the Appalachian Regional Commission and its programs; for his outstanding effort in bringing about the first five-year reauthorization of ARC in its history; for his dedicated service to the people of the region and especially to those citizens of the 29 counties of Appalachian Ohio; and for his on-going support of community development efforts and the role that local development districts have in improving the region's quality of life." March 2002
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce presented the senator with the "A Spirit of Enterprise Award" for his strong support of pro-business and job productivity initiatives during the first session of the 107th Congress. The senator earned a 93 percent score with the Chamber in 2001 and an 83 percent score in 2002. March 20, 2002
• Congressional Partnership Award presented by the Ohio Valley Regional Development Council for Senator Voinovich's "outstanding leadership in promoting regional economic development." (This award was given to the senator specifically for his work on legislation to reauthorize programs with the Appalachian Regional Commission.) April 15, 2002
• National Federation of Independent Business presented the Small Business Guardian Award for Senator Voinovich's voting record for the 107th Congress. September 26, 2002
• Ruth Ratner Award was presented to the senator and his wife Janet by the Downtown Cleveland Partnership for their contributions to build and strengthen Cleveland's economy. October 28, 2002
• National Utility Contractors Association presented the "2002 We Dig America Award" for the senator's work on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. December 2002
• National Association of Manufacturers' "Award for Manufacturing and Legislative Excellence" for support of American business and America's workforce in the 108th Congress. March 2003
• National Utility Contractors Association's "2003 We Dig America Award" for contributions to promote the development of America's infrastructure. March 2003
• Ohio Valley Regional Development Corporation's "Area Leadership Award" for outstanding service, commitment, and leadership for Appalachian Ohio. March 2003
• Great Lakes Maritime Task Force's "Great Lakes Legislator of the Year" for commitment and dedication to the Great Lakes shipping industry. May 2003
• National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies’' "Benjamin Franklin Public Policy Award" for support of responsible policies to encourage risk management. May 2003
• Small Business Council of America's "Congressional Award" in appreciation of efforts to help grow small businesses in Ohio. May 2003
• The National Corn Growers Association's "President's Award" for commitment to Ohio's corn growers, and efforts to expand ethanol use nationwide. July 2003
• Ohio Municipal Electric Association's Resolution in recognition of his work to protect low-cost electricity for customers of municipal utilities. April 2004
• The National Association of Development Organizations' "Congressional Partnership Award" for his support of economic development programs. April 2004
• The Food Distribution Industry's Thomas Jefferson Award, for his commitment to free enterprise through his votes on issues such as taxes, free trade, labor policy and other economic matters. September 2004
• The Farm Bureau Federation's "Friend of Farm Bureau Award" for his commitment to the agriculture industry during the 108th Congress. October 2004
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Spirit of Enterprise Award for his support of pro-business issues during the second session of the 108th Congress.  March 2005
• The Farm Bureau Federation's "Friend of Farm Bureau Award" for his commitment to the agriculture industry during the 108th Congress. March 2005
• The National Association of Manufacturing Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence for his favorable voting record on manufacturing issues. March 2005
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Spirit of Enterprise Award for his support of pro-business issues during the first session of the 109th Congress. March 2006
• The 2006 Congressional Partnership Award from the National Association of Development Organizations for his outstanding leadership in promoting federal community, economic and transportation development programs. March 2006
• The 2006 Thomas Jefferson Award from the International Foodservice Distributors Association for sharing the food service industry's commitment to free enterprise. July 2006
• The NFIB "Guardian of Small Business" award for his commitment to small business in the 109th Congress. September 2006

Foreign Affairs

• Special Award from the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States and Canada for Senator Voinovich's "tireless endeavors to promote and defend truth on behalf of the Serbians and the Orthodox faith; In the public forum of our nation's capital and throughout the world; Given on the occasion of the grand banquet of the Second Annual Serbian American Leadership Conference." September 6, 2001
• Tony Petkovsek Award of Appreciation presented by the Cleveland Slovenian Community for outstanding service to the local Slovenian community. December 22, 2001
• Special Award from the Serbian Unity Congress: "Sincerely and gratefully presented to you in recognition of your steadfast integrity and courage in seeking and speaking the truth." February 2, 2002
• Honored by the Central and East European Coalition for work on issues impacting this part of the world, in particular, NATO enlargement. May 2002
• The National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes' "Democracy Award" for work to promote the ideals of democracy, and efforts to further the relationship between the United States and Greece. Senator Voinovich was one of three senators honored at this event. July 2003
• The Negev Foundation's "Award for Public Service" for his continued commitment to the Jewish community and the State of Israel. In September 2003, the Foundation held a concert and program at Severance Hall in Cleveland where they announced that a new business center in Israel would be named the “George and Janet Voinovich Business Center” in their honor. This center will be the second major project in Israel named after the Voinovich's. In 1982, the Voinovich's participated in the dedication of the Jewish National Fund's Molly Agnes Voinovich Recreation Park and Forest in Hazoreah, Israel. This forest and recreational center is named in honor of the Voinovich's youngest daughter, Molly, who died in 1979. September 2003
• The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution's "Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service" for a special commitment to seeking out informed opinions and thoughtful views. Senator Voinovich is the first Ohioan to receive this distinguished award. October 2003
• The International Trust Fund's (ITF) "De-mining and Mine Victims Assistance Award" for leadership to help keep the Balkan nations safe from landmines remaining after the ethnic strife that plagued the region during the 1990s. Senator Voinovich was one of the first members of the Senate to receive the award. October 2003
• Republic of Lithuania's "Grand Cross of the Commander of the Order of Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas" for his leadership to extend NATO's membership to include Lithuania. The senator was one of only two members to receive this award in December. December 2003
• The Vietnamese Community's "Lunar New Year" plaque for outstanding support of the Vietnamese community in Cleveland. January 2004
• National Emergency Management Association's 2005 Congressional Recognition Award for his work in recognizing the importance of emergency management and homeland security. February 2005
• The Decoration of the Golden Order of Merit of the Republic of Slovenia for his leadership in the Senate on issues dealing with Slovenia and Southeast Europe. May 2005
• The Centennial Congressional Leadership Award from the American Jewish Committee for his longstanding commitment to the Jewish community. May 2006
• The Rabbi Eliezer Silver Humanitarian Award for Distinguished Service in Fighting Hate. June 2006

Environmental

• Named "Steward of the Everglades" by The Everglades Coalition in appreciation of Senator Voinovich's efforts to restore America's Everglades. January 6, 2001
• Woods and Waters Club of Cleveland's "2003 Man of the Year Award" in appreciation of his commitment to Ohio's environment, particularly Lake Erie. The Woods and Waters Club of Cleveland is a local group of outdoor enthusiasts including fishermen and hunters. February 2003
• The Water Infrastructure Network's "Clean and Safe Water Award" for leadership and dedication to ensuring the safety of America's water. May 2003
• The Northeast Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies' "National Environmental Achievement Public Service Award" for outstanding contributions to environmental protection and wastewater management. August 2003
• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) "Environmental Leadership Award" for the senator’s efforts to help update 40-year-old highway construction rules to better balance development and preservation needs. February 2004
• Congressional Partnership and Conservation Award for 2006 from the Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service. March 2006

Public Service, Civic & Charitable

• Merit Award, Combined Federal Campaign. 1999
• The Beech Acres Children's Advocate Award during the Beech Acres 150th Anniversary Gala, Cincinnati, Ohio. April 22, 1999
• Humanitarian Award–The Chapel of Four Chaplains. May 31, 1999
• Children's Choice Award, National Catholic Educational Association. February 1999
• Inducted to The Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame. August 12, 1999
• The Vietnamese Community of Greater Cleveland, "For Your Outstanding Support of the Vietnamese Community in Cleveland." February 2000
• Council of State Governments' Guardian of Federalism Award. April 29, 2000
• Spirit of God Award from Bishop Anthony Pilla and J. Thomas Mullen of the Catholic Charities at the opening of the Fatima Family Center. June 26, 2000
• Legislative Policy Award for Exceptional Leadership and Service to Federal Employees Award from the Columbus Chapter of Blacks in Government for work to improve civil service and address the human capital crisis. November 2, 2002
• American Red Cross–Cleveland Chapter's 2000 Red Cross Community Leader Award. November 4, 2000
• Rural/Metro Ambulance honored Senator Voinovich for his "outstanding support of emergency medical services." Washington, D.C. May 9, 2001
• Congressional Education Leadership Award presented by the National Association for College Admission Counseling for "Senator Voinovich's commitment to assisting college counseling professionals and the students they serve during the 107th Congress." March 5, 2002
• Excellence in Education Award presented by the National Association for College Admission Counseling. The award is the highest honor awarded to non-members of the Association. October 21, 2002
• Youth Opportunities Unlimited honored Senator Voinovich for his leadership in starting Y.O.U as a public-private partnership while mayor of Cleveland. November 13, 2002
• The Columbus Urban League's "2003 Equal Opportunity Day Award" for his contributions to the cause of equal opportunity. April 2003
• National Association of Letter Carriers and United States Postal Service'ss "Stamp Out Hunger 2003 Award" for generosity and commitment to helping feed needy children. April 2003
• The Public Employees Roundtable's "Jack Niles Award" for his demonstrated commitment to enhancing the image of public service. January 2004
• The Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland's "Ralph W. Findley Award" for his years of service on behalf of children and families, especially those in Cuyahoga County. May 2004
• Jobs for Ohio's Graduates presented Senator Voinovich with an award in appreciation of his outstanding record of commitment to Jobs for Ohio's Graduates and Ohio's youth. March 2005
• Cleveland Club of Washington, D.C. Harold Hitz Burton Award for Distinguished Public Service for dedication to the people of Cleveland throughout his public service career. April 2005
• The Private Sector Council Leadership Award for his work in human capital and government management issues. May 2005
• The 2005 Defender of Marriage Award from the Alliance for Marriage for Senator Voinovich's vote in favor of the Marriage Protection Amendment during the 108th Congress. 2005
• The 2005 Ohio University Alumnus of the Year Award for achievement in his profession and devotion to Ohio University. October 2005
• The 2006 Distinguished Community Health Superhero Award for his efforts in the first session of the 109th Congress on behalf of America's Health Centers, and the more than 15 million uninsured and medically underserved Americans who rely on them for affordable, effective primary health care. March 2006
• The Vision Award from the American Medical Student Association in recognition of his innovative leadership in reforming the U.S. health care system. July 2006