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Honors In his first Senate term, John has earned national recognition for his legislative achievements in the areas of health-care, fiscal responsibility, and energy policy – recognition that underscores his ability to effect policy that addresses the needs of New Hampshire residents and Americans nationwide. Beyond the awards noted below, non-partisan, taxpayer watchdog organizations - the National Taxpayers Union, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, and Americans for Tax Reform – have consistently honored John for his commitment to cutting government spending, reducing taxes, and eliminating the debt. Read what organization leaders have said about John’s work in the United States Senate: For nearly a century, the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA) has worked to promote better forest management and conservation practices and to ensure a strong industry for forest products in the Granite State. Since coming to Congress in 1997, John has listened carefully to those working in the forest community, understands their needs and goals, and has fought for legislation that is in the best interest of New Hampshire and its shared commitment to conservation. The organization recognized this work and on May 3 honored him with its annual “Outstanding Legislator of the Year” award. Of John’s commitment, NHTOA Executive Director Jasen Stock said. “The award speaks for itself, and the fact the Senator Sununu received it recognizes his outstanding service to the state’s forest product industry and to forest landowners. His support of renewable energy and the role of biomass and its impact in the low-grade wood market if particularly noteworthy. We appreciate his work, and we’re happy to present him with this award.” New Hampshire Timberland Owners “Outstanding Legislator of the Year” award for 2007. Great strides have been made in the fight to prevent breast cancer, however, this tragic disease will take the lives of over 40,000 women across the country this year. John has worked side by side with the National Breast Cancer Coalition and Nancy Ryan, Chair of the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition, to help reduce these statistics. The National Breast Cancer Coalition presented John with a “Certificate of Excellence” on April 29, 2008 in recognition of his “perfect record” on the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s priorities in the 2007 session. Highlighting John’s record, Ryan said, “Senator Sununu took all action requested on the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s top priorities including guaranteed access to quality health care for all, funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP), co-sponsorship of the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act (S.579/H.R.1157), and preservation of the Medicaid Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program. This year we urge him to help enact the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act into law.” Information Technology Industry Council’s “2007 Legislator of the Year” Award. John led a successful fight to ban Internet Access Taxes for the next seven years – a ban that also protects e-mails and instant messaging from taxation. For this initiative which was signed into law by President Bush on October 31, 2007 and his leadership on high-tech initiatives, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) honored John with its “2007 Legislator of the Year” award. Of John’s legislative record, ITI President Rhett Dawson stated, “Many legislators talk about the importance of technology, but Senator John Sununu has been an unequivocal leader. Year after year, issue after issue, Senator Sununu has shown a commitment to promoting high-tech growth and knocking down barriers to innovation.” Community health centers in New Hampshire and across the nation provide health care to millions of individuals, children, and families regardless of income or insurance status. For his continued commitment to ensuring the availability of this care, the National Association of Community Health Centers honored John with its “2008 Superhero Award.” Of this dedication, Tess Keunning, Executive Director of Bi-State Primary Care Association, stated, “We are very pleased and proud to have Senator Sununu receive this award. He has been an important voice on behalf of health centers in New Hampshire and indeed across the country. He understands that health centers are part of the solution to America’s increasingly fragmented health care system, as they provide communities with a health care home — we thank Senator Sununu for his continued support.” Understanding that his legislative initiatives help ensure that emerging technologies have the opportunity to flourish, leaders of the Consumer Electronics Association presented John with the organization’s 2007 “Digital Patriot Award.” As a Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, John has supported legislation that empowers innovators and benefits consumers. According to Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, “As one of two members of Congress to be distinguished this year, Senator Sununu has demonstrated a willingness to push the envelope of innovation and has refused to settle for the status quo. He has a vision for the future and is willing to strive towards it. I appreciated the opportunity to recognize his work as part of this year's Digital Patriots awards ceremony." In the April 24, 2006 edition of TIME Magazine, John was named an “Up and Comer” in a listing of five freshman Senators who have “turned heads already by learning a specialty or helping to broker peace in a polarized capital.” Other Members named were Senators Barack Obama (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Mark Pryor (D-AK). The magazine described John by stating, “Only 41 years old, the New Hampshire Republican is the youngest member of the Senate, but that hasn’t limited his reach. Sununu played a major role this year on the lobbying-reform legislation, and he got the Bush Administration to make some crucial changes in the Patriot Act before he voted to reauthorize it. The son of form White House chief of Staff John H. Sununu, he has become a well-respected fiscal conservative, last fall calling for cuts in nearly every part of the budget to offset spending for Hurricane Katrina." In recognition of his work to provide quality health care to those who have little or no health insurance, the National Association of Community Health Centers honored John with its “2006 Community Health Defender Award.” John has consistently worked to bring funding to community health centers in New Hampshire. For this achievement, Tess Kuenning, Executive Director of Bi-State Primary Care Association, stated, “Senator Sununu should be commended for his active support of Community Health Centers nationally and in New Hampshire. He knows the value of investing in health centers because he recognizes the importance of the high-quality and cost-effective care they bring to a community.” Additionally, for his dedication to helping the visually impaired through the Medicare Low-Vision Rehabilitation Services Demonstration Project, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) honored John with a “2006 Helen Keller Achievement Award.” According to Carl R. Augusto, AFB president and Chief Executive Officer, “We are grateful to Senator Sununu for his work to expand opportunities for Medicare beneficiaries with vision loss to receive services from professionals with training in vision rehabilitation.” Taxpayers for Common Sense 2005 “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” award For his strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and his efforts to eliminate wasteful government spending, particularly regarding energy policy, Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) presented John with its “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” award. He was the only Member of Congress to be recognized with the 2005 “Mr. Smith.” John was singled out for his independent thinking and strong opposition to wasteful subsidies in the energy bill, including corporate welfare for timber companies, and for his long-term commitment to balancing the budget. For his efforts to expand the availability of health services to New Hampshire residents with limited access to care, the Bi-State Primary Care Association presented John with its “Champion of Community Health Centers” award in 2005. John secured critical resources for community health centers in the state, bolstering the quality and availability of medical, dental, and homeless health care in New Hampshire. According to Tess Kuenning, Executive Director of Bi-State Primary Care Association, “Bi-State recognized Senator Sununu for his enormous, long-term commitment to improving access to primary health care services to medically underserved, geographically, culturally, and linguistically-isolated persons in New Hampshire.” According to Jill Lancelot, TCS President and Co-Founder, “Like Jimmy Stewart in the classic film, Senator John Sununu came to Washington to stand up for American taxpayers against pork barrel politics-as-usual and he is keeping his promise. He has been an ardent and resolute leader for fiscal responsibility. The Senator has worked hard to make legislation smarter and cost-effective.” Bi-State Primary Care Association’s 2005 “Champion of Community Health Center" Lighthouse International’s 2004 “Henry Grunwald Award for Public Service” Lighthouse International – a non-profit group dedicated to helping individuals who are at risk for, or experiencing, vision impairment – also recognized John for his efforts to advance provisions of his “Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act of 2003.” The Henry Grunwald Award for Public Service is presented to those who bring attention to the issue of vision impairment. Barbara Silverstone, Lighthouse International CEO and President, said of John: “He fought fiercely throughout the legislative process, resulting in the bill’s inclusion in the Senate’s Medicare prescription drug bill. The Senator also secured Congressional passage of a nationwide project to demonstrate the effectiveness of providing vision rehabilitation services where older adults need them most: in their homes and communities." For his outstanding efforts toward the advancement and availability of quality eye care, the American Academy of Opthalmology (AAO) honored John with its “Visionary Award” in 2004. In May 2003, John introduced the bipartisan “Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act of 2003,” legislation that resulted in a five-year low-vision rehabilitation services demonstration project in New Hampshire, North Carolina, Kansas, Washington state, New York City, and Atlanta. The initiative will allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive vision rehabilitation therapy in their own homes. According to H. Dunbar Hoskins, Jr., M.D., Executive Vice President of the AAO, “Senator Sununu is a model legislator for a much under-recognized area in ophthalmology, vision rehabilitation services. As a result of his efforts, Congress passed a nationwide five year demonstration – essentially implementing it as law for five years. We are now working with the Lighthouse for the Blind and others to ensure prompt implementation of the demonstration.” |
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