The Bakers Dozen Awards ceremony is part of ABA’s Bakers Fly-In and Policy Summit, a unique forum that brings interested stakeholders together ‘to voice our shared concerns with lawmakers in Washington, DC. We believe in our shared strength and know having the entire baking supply chain present for these visits will lead to powerful results.’
This year’s Summit - held this week - saw ABA joining forces with the Retail Bakers of America and the American Society of Baking. Nearly 400 attendees across the three associations, along with Congressional staff, were privy in honouring the four - “who deliver more than what is expected in service to their constituencies and the commercial baking industry,” said ABA president and CEO Eric Dell.
Inspired by the tradition of a baker’s dozen - a symbol of generosity by offering 13 items instead of the traditional 12, the “Awards are an acknowledgement to elected officials who have demonstrated a commitment to key priorities and policies that are important to the commercial baking industry,” added Dell.
Recipients of the 2023 Awards
US Representative Lloyd Smucker (working on behalf of the residents of Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District) is on a mission to reignite the American Dream. According to his website, Smucker believes this can be achieved by working to increase economic opportunity for everyone, reining in Washington’s out-of-control spending and providing regulatory relief to small businesses so they can expand and create jobs
“It is an honour to have earned the Bakers Dozen Award, representing a district that employs thousands in food manufacturing and is a leading agricultural producer,” said Smucker.
“I’m committed to advancing policies like the Main Street Tax Certainty Act to support our small businesses and sustain American job growth.”
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis supports commonsense policies that will generate economic growth and opportunities for working families, according to his stie.
“ABA thanks Senator Tillis for his leadership on introducing the Main Street Tax Certainty Act to push for making the Small Business Deduction permanent.
“Small businesses across the nation have benefited from this tax deduction, using the funds from their deduction to invest in employees, benefits, and their businesses and the Main Street Tax Certainty Act makes this critical tax deduction permanent.”
John Thune (Republican Party) is a member of the US Senate from South Dakota.
“Senator Thune’s co-sponsorship of the Undertaking Negotiations on Investment and Trade for Economic Dynamism (UNITED) Act (S629) targets a more ambitious US trade agenda for American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses.
“Promoting this bipartisan legislation would authorise the administration to negotiate and conclude a trade agreement with the United Kingdom to open export opportunities for businesses of all sizes, increase the resilience of critical supply chains, and advance economic prosperity for people in both countries.”
US Representative David Scott is in his 10th term representing Georgia's Thirteenth Congressional District and is a strong voice for farmers, jobs, healthcare, education, veterans, children and transportation.
“It is an honour to receive the 2023 Bakers Dozen Award, particularly at a time when food assistance programmes are under constant threat,” said Scott.
“Supporting bakers goes hand-in-hand with supporting food assistance for America’s hungry families. Protecting the dignity of American families by promoting access to food and defending their freedom to choose what to eat is a core value that guides my leadership of the House Agriculture Committee as we negotiate the next Farm Bill.”