Sep 23, 2004
WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 23, 2004 — U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Senator Don Nickles (R-OK) were honored yesterday at a ceremony hosted by the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA), a trade group representing foodservice distributors, and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), a trade group representing food retailers and wholesalers.


Rep. Goodlatte, who serves as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and Sen. Nickles, Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, were presented with the food distribution industry’s 2004 Thomas Jefferson Award for Distinguished Service for their work on a number of key issues. Rep. Goodlatte was recognized for his leadership and support of voluntary country of origin labeling, a profoundly important issue to the food industry. Sen. Nickles, who is retiring after four terms in the Senate, was recognized for his longstanding commitment to a free enterprise agenda including his groundbreaking work to repeal the 2001 ergonomics standard and his stalwart support for repeal of the estate tax.


This award for “distinguished service” is presented to a House and Senate Member who have exemplified free-market values and supported issues that are of the highest priority to the food distribution industry. In addition, Thomas Jefferson Awards were presented to 48 Senators and 225 Representatives who have voted consistently in support of sound fiscal policy and other free-market principles crucial to the health of the food distribution industry and the nation’s economy as a whole.


"I appreciate the commitment of the FMI and the IFDA to free enterprise,” said Rep. Goodlatte on receiving the award. “I take seriously our responsibility to prevent unnecessary regulatory restrictions that inhibit free enterprise. To that end, the Agriculture Committee recently passed Voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling legislation that will allow producers to work with processors and retailers to provide labeling information to help them market their product without creating another layer of regulatory and business cost. This was possible by the help of your work with the coalition of other ag organizations that aided in finding a workable solution to provide labeling information in the marketplace in such a way that informs consumers and benefits producers."


"Receiving an award named after Thomas Jefferson, one of our wisest founding fathers, is a great honor,” said Sen. Nickles on receiving the award. “Jefferson strongly believed in free enterprise and that helping industry grow and flourish helps America grow and flourish. I thank the International Foodservice Distributors Association and the Food Marketing Institute for this distinction.”


Of the several hundred votes cast during the 108th Congress in 2003-2004, FMI and IFDA selected 10 votes on the House side and 12 votes on the Senate side that are critical to the interests of the food distribution industry. Recipients of the 2004 Thomas Jefferson Award were recorded favorably on at least 70 percent of these votes.


On the House side, IFDA and FMI strongly supported the Jobs and Growth Reconciliation Tax Act (HR 2), the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act (HR 339), and the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act (HR 8) (counted twice in calculating House voting records given the importance of the issue to the industry). Each of these legislative items passed.


On the Senate side, two votes were counted twice due to their importance to the industry. Both were amendments to other legislation and were opposed by IFDA and FMI. The first prohibited the Department of Labor from moving forward on new overtime regulations and the second curbed the economic effectiveness of tax cuts. Both amendments passed.


“The food distribution industry touches the life of every American consumer,” said IFDA President and CEO Mark S. Allen. “These awards acknowledge Members of the 108th Congress who support family-owned businesses, make balanced policy decisions, and support policies that strengthen the food distribution industry. The Distinguished Service Awards, presented to Representative Goodlatte and Senator Nickles, are our way of recognizing two truly extraordinary legislators who stand on principles that make our economy stronger.”


“Sound government allows free enterprise to thrive so business can deliver the best possible value and service to consumers, while stimulating competition and economic growth,” said FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds. “Senator Nickles and Representative Goodlatte have demonstrated a keen awareness of these dynamics in policies ranging from taxation to food labeling to labor issues. And most importantly, they have inspired their colleagues in Congress to follow their lead.”


The award program is founded on Thomas Jefferson’s philosophy toward commerce, expressed clearly in his first inaugural address when he stated: “A wise and frugal government… shall leave men otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.”


The custom-designed award features a replica of Thomas Jefferson as sculpted in the Jefferson Memorial, flanked by the four columns inscribed with agriculture, commerce, navigation, and manufacturing — the four pillars of prosperity that Jefferson felt were crucial to the success of the American economy.


The award program is conducted every two years and coincides with the adjournment of each Congress.


Note to Editors: The voting records on which the awards are based can be found at ifdaonline.org and fmi.org.