August 3, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) has presented a 2010 Champion for Business award to U.S. Senator George LeMieux (R-FL) for his commitment to reducing the national deficit and his defense of Florida’s business community. This is the first time AIF has bestowed a Champion for Business award on a member of Congress. Historically, the prestigious awards have been limited to state lawmakers.

“A healthy economy depends on a healthy business environment. Florida's businesses have a strong advocate for sound policies in AIF and I commend the association and its leaders for promoting a pro-growth agenda. I am honored to receive this award and will continue to fight for business across our state,” said Sen. LeMieux.

AIF’s Champions for Business awards are annually presented to leaders who have proven to be strong and forceful advocates for Florida’s business community. Champions for Business are chosen for their support of meaningful and often controversial pro-business legislation that benefits employers and their workers. Established by AIF in 2003, the awards program was created to acknowledge the efforts of lawmakers who sponsored and defended pro-business bills, as well as those who worked behind-the-scenes on legislation critical to the prosperity of Florida businesses.

“Typically, our Champions for Business awards are reserved for state legislators, but we took this extraordinary action of recognizing Sen. LeMieux because he has proven in a very dramatic way and in a very short period of time in office that he understands the symbiotic relationship between a vigorous business climate and a prosperous economy,” said Barney Bishop III, President and CEO of AIF. “We salute Sen. LeMieux for his courage in fighting to reduce the sky-rocketing U.S. deficit, his opposition to Card Check legislation, his commitment to providing financial assistance to Community Banks, his promotion of the Small Business Jobs Act, and his steadfast support of the free-enterprise system.”