U.S. Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Rep. Bill Foster with the Advocate for American Business Award during the National Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour

NAPERVILLE, IL - The U.S. Chamber's Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Neil Bradley, presented Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL-11) with the Advocate for American Business award while visiting Nicor Gas in Naperville, IL with the Naperville Chamber of Commerce.

"Rep. Bill Foster has been a strong advocate for policies that promote innovation, economic growth, and opportunity. The U.S. Chamber is proud to recognize his leadership and commitment to advancing a free enterprise economy that enables businesses, workers, and communities to succeed. We look forward to continuing to work with him to strengthen America's economic future," Bradley said.

Bradley and Congressman Foster were joined at Nicor Gas Technical Training Center by Naperville Mayor Scott A. Wehrli, Kevin O' Keefe, Membership Development Director at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and representatives of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce.

Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), and serves 2.3 million customers in more than 650 communities across Northern Illinois. Nicor Gas is fueling customer choice, innovation, economic growth and a sustainable energy future. At the training facility, workers train for twenty-six weeks to learn the best practices of managing natural gas pipelines.

The national Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour is a six-week trip through 20 states and more than 50 events to make the case for free enterprise in communities across America and push back against growing support for government-directed economic policies that threaten economic freedom, opportunity, innovation, and growth.

The effort is part of a broader Chamber initiative, the New Fight for Free Enterprise, a multi-year effort to organize, mobilize, 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.

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About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Our members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations. For more than 114 years, we have advocated for pro-business policies that help businesses create jobs and grow our economy.