Rep. Hoyer's decision to pursue the path of public service arose from listening to a young John F. Kennedy speak at the University of Maryland in 1958. He credits Kennedy with inspiring him to change his major and improve his academic standing to finish top of his class. "I have a bust of John F. Kennedy in my office, because he literally changed my life, changed my direction, changed the sense of purpose," Rep. Hoyer said in a recent speech to students in his home state.

Since graduating from the University of Maryland and attaining his law degree from Georgetown, he's worked tirelessly on behalf of Marylanders and Americans alike, and has been actively involved in transportation, foreign policy, and government efficiency. He helped guide the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to passage in 1990, and as the former Ranking Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, he played a crucial role on issues ranging from election/campaign finance reform to enhancing the security of the Capitol complex in the aftermath of September 11.with inspiring him to change his major and improve his academic standing to finish top of his class. "I have a bust of John F. Kennedy in my office, because he literally changed my life, changed my direction, changed the sense of purpose," Rep. Hoyer said in a recent speech to students in his home state. 

On restoring trust in the democratic process, Rep. Hoyer has said, "We can begin by remembering that civility and compromise are essential in our republic. Some have tried to dismiss civility as political correctness – to suggest that if you are respectful to those who disagree with you, somehow that makes you weak. That if you compromise, it means you are unprincipled. But our nation deserves to be led by those who understand that compromise is not antithetical to principle, that civility is one of our system's greatest strengths."

The Congressional Management Foundation is honored to present Representative Steny Hoyer with the Lifetime Achievement Democracy Award.

The Honorable Rob Portman (R-OH)

Representing Ohio in the United States Senate since 2010, Sen. Rob Portman is widely respected as a thoughtful negotiator, legislator, and mentor with decades of legislative and executive branch experience.

After graduating from Dartmouth with highest distinction in his major and receiving his law degree from the University of Michigan, Sen. Portman opened a private practice before serving on the White House staff of the first Bush Administration, as a Member of Congress for 12 years, and in two Cabinet-level positions in the administration of President George W. Bush.

“I am a guy who has worked across the aisle to get stuff done,” Sen. Portman has stated in a past interview. “I’m someone who believes that when you get elected to office, you’re hired to actually achieve a result, so I’m not as much into the partisanship as some.”

In 2017, the Lugar Center's Bipartisan Index ranked him as the second most bipartisan senator, and he's also the recipient of the Jacob K. Javits Award for Bipartisan Leadership as well as the Panetta Institute for Public Policy's Jefferson-Lincoln Award.as stated in a past interview. "I'm someone who believes that when you get elected to office, you're hired to actually achieve a result, so I'm not as much into the partisanship as some."

Upon receiving the Panetta Institute's award, Sen. Portman stated, "As a public servant, and a voice for the more than 11 million Ohioans, each with unique issues and concerns, I have always worked to put their needs ahead of party politics."

The Congressional Management Foundation is honored to present Senator Rob Portman with the Lifetime Achievement Democracy Award.