WASHINGTON – The United States Chamber of Commerce today presented Rep. Tom Petri with its 2004 "Spirit of Enterprise" award for his strong support for its pro-business legislative agenda in the first session of the 108th Congress.

"As America's economy continues to expand, the importance of supporting pro-growth policies in Congress becomes increasingly clear," said Thomas J. Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "Tom Petri is a leader who time and again has supported legislation to create jobs, increase productivity, and strengthen our nation's recovering economy."

"Tom Petri has been doing a great job for small business for a lifetime," he said.

Petri responded, "Jobs are important, and we're all worrying about being competitive. And the fact is that when families set up business and hire other people we're all better off. So I'm happy to try to make sure that, to the extent possible, Washington doesn't get in the way of that whole process and even helps once in a while."

The Chamber awards the "Spirit of Enterprise" based on rankings it gives members of Congress for key business votes set out in its annual publication How They Voted. Rep. Petri earned a 77 percent score with the Chamber last year and has compiled a 77 percent cumulative ranking during his tenure in Congress. Among the key votes counted by the Chamber in 2003 were votes approving the $350 billion Jobs and Growth Tax Relief package and the most sweeping modernization of Medicare since the program's creation in 1965.

Chamber-designated "key votes" are recorded floor votes on issues established as priorities by the Chamber's board of directors and on which the Chamber communicates its position prior to the vote. Members of Congress who support the Chamber's position on at least 70 percent of key votes receive the "Spirit of Enterprise" award.

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.