U.S. Chamber Names Suozzi First Democrat to Win Business Award

Rep. Tom Suozzi became the first Democratic member of Congress to receive the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Advocate for American Business award during the national Free Enterprise Bus Tour. Neil Bradley, the Chamber's Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, presented the award at Standard Bots, a Glen Cove, NY manufacturer of AI-native industrial robotic arms.

"The U.S. Chamber is proud to recognize Rep. Tom Suozzi as the first Democratic Member of Congress to receive this award on the Free Enterprise Bus Tour," Bradley said. "Rep. Suozzi has been a steadfast defender of free market capitalism and his approach to policy prioritizes real solutions for American families and businesses. We look forward to continuing to work with him to advance free enterprise policies that allow businesses, workers, and communities to grow and thrive."

The Chamber cited Suozzi's work as Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus and his pro-growth positions, including his push for what it called commonsense immigration reform.

Suozzi, who represents New York's 3rd congressional district, tied the award to the economic argument he has built his career around.

"I want to thank the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for this recognition and for bringing the Free Enterprise Express here to Glen Cove," Suozzi said. "I've always believed that the best way to grow our economy is to give people the opportunity to work hard, build something, create jobs, and succeed. Companies like Standard Bots are doing exactly that right here on Long Island. We need to work together — Democrats and Republicans — to bring down costs, support our small and growing businesses, and create an environment where American innovation can thrive. That's how we grow our economy, create opportunity, and keep the American Dream alive for the next generation."

Bradley and Suozzi were joined by Standard Bots CEO Evan Beard to present the award and tour the factory. Standard Bots describes itself as the largest domestic manufacturer of industrial robotic arms.

"We're proud to welcome Congressman Suozzi and the U.S. Chamber's Free Enterprise Express to Standard Bots here in Glen Cove," said Beard, who co-founded the company. "We believe America can and should lead the world in advanced manufacturing and robotics. By encouraging innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship, we can build many more things in America, create good jobs, and compete globally."

The award stop is part of the Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour, a six-week trip through 20 states with more than 50 events. The tour's stated goal is to make the case for free enterprise in communities across America and push back against what the Chamber sees as growing support for government-directed economic policies that threaten economic freedom, opportunity, innovation, and growth.

The tour sits under a broader Chamber initiative, the New Fight for Free Enterprise, a multi-year effort to organize and make the case for free enterprise everywhere public opinion is shaped, public policy is made, and future generations learn what it takes for people and communities to thrive.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, founded more than 114 years ago, calls itself the world's largest business organization, representing companies of all sizes across every sector, from small businesses and local chambers of commerce to leading industry associations and large corporations.

The recognition of a House Democrat signals the Chamber's intent to build bipartisan backing for its free enterprise agenda ahead of the tour's remaining stops across 20 states.