The American Shipbuilding Association (ASA) announced that Representative Jo Ann S. Davis (R-VA) would be the 2006 recipient of the Herbert H. Bateman Award. This award will be presented on June 28th during ASA’s Salute to the 109th Congress reception in the Gold Room (2168) of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Representative Jo Ann Davis succeeded Congressman Herbert H. Bateman in representing the 1st congressional district of Virginia. She was elected in November 2000, and has served 6 years in the House of Representatives.
“Representative Davis has been a tireless leader in Congress in promoting a strong shipbuilding industry. She is the founding co-chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, and in 18 months has grown the caucus to over 100 members. Ms. Davis has worked throughout her time in congress to rebuild the nation’s naval fleet, and she has sponsored legislation to require that ships for our military be built in the United States by closing a loophole in current law that allows for the de facto purchase of foreign-built ships. She, also, promotes commercial shipbuilding programs to maintain the defense shipbuilding industrial base. Through her efforts, America’s national security is strengthened,” stated Cynthia L. Brown, President of ASA.
The Herbert H. Bateman Award was established by the American Shipbuilding Association in 2000. This Award is the shipbuilding industry’s highest recognition of an individual in the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, or industry who has demonstrated years of consistent, outstanding, and inspirational leadership in fighting for a stronger shipbuilding industry. Congressman Herb Bateman of Virginia, the award’s namesake, demonstrated these qualities throughout his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 – 2000.