March 8, 2018 - The American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association (ASSA) recognized the Honorable Tammy Baldwin, United State Senator for Wisconsin, as the 2018 recipient of the Honorable Thad Cochran Leadership Award at their Congressional Reception held in Washington D.C. March 7th.
The ASSA established this annual award as a way to honor the leadership of Senator Cochran for his continued and unwavering support to those large and small businesses that provide the critical technologies and components necessary to build Navy and Coast Guard ships, which are critical to U.S. national security.
The Honorable Thad Cochran Leadership Award is given annually to a public servant nominated by the ASSA membership who demonstrates dedication and commitment to supporting and maintaining a robust shipbuilding supplier industrial base. "We are proud to honor Senator Baldwin as our 2018 Honorable Thad Cochran Leadership Award recipient," said Stephen Cobb, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASSA. "She has been a staunch advocate for strengthening our manufacturing economy for American companies to grow and create jobs and has been an impactful leader in supporting workforce readiness programs. I cannot think of a better person to honor.”
“Senator Cochran’s leadership will be missed both in Congress and for the impact he had on our industry,” said Chris Cikanovich, ASSA President. “We are proud to have this award continue on in his honor.”
Senator Baldwin has authored and championed numerous successful Buy American provisions in recent defense authorization and appropriations bills, helping to secure a level playing field for U.S. shipbuilding suppliers and maintain the health of the domestic industrial base, which is critical to our national and economic security.
Senator Baldwin serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
As a co-chair of the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus (CTE), Senator Baldwin has worked across the aisle to introduce reforms that prioritize CTE, STEM education, and offer stronger support for workforce readiness programs.
Senator Baldwin believes that more must be done to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. She has worked to strengthen our manufacturing economy and is a leader in the Senate of the Manufacturing Jobs for America campaign to rally bipartisan support for legislation that would help manufacturers grow and create jobs. In the proud tradition of Wisconsin’s state motto, Forward, she has shown a strong commitment to investing in innovation, science, research and technology so we create stronger growth in advanced manufacturing, small business start-ups and an innovative economy that is built to last and ready to compete with the rest of the world and win. Media Contact: Laura Haas, COO, American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association - 434-249-7442 or laura.haas.assa@gmail.com