The American Bakers Association has recognized five members of Congress with its 2026 Baking Industry Champions Awards for supporting policies that benefit commercial baking manufacturers.
The honorees are Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas), Rep. Donald G. Davis (D-North Carolina), Rep. John Joyce (R-Pennsylvania), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Illinois) and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas).
“The Baking Industry Champions Awards recognize elected officials who understand the importance of this industry and have worked to advance policies that help baking continue to feed America and drive economic growth,” said Eric Dell, president and CEO at ABA.
Davis and Joyce co-chair the Congressional Baking Caucus, a bipartisan group the two formed in November 2024 to address workforce development, regulatory reform and supply chain efficiency for the industry.
“Every day, America’s bakers feed families with safe, affordable food while supporting farmers, manufacturers, truck drivers, retailers, and millions of jobs across America’s food supply chain,” Davis said.
Joyce said commercial baking connects Pennsylvania farms, processors and manufacturers to households nationwide, and that he is proud to champion policies supporting the industry through the caucus.
To further strengthen the industry, ABA is holding its Bakers Fly-In and Policy Summit and NextGenBaker Leadership Forum Sept. 15 in Washington, D.C., where the association is headquartered.
ABA has represented the commercial baking industry since 1897. Its membership includes more than 350 baker and allied member companies across thousands of manufacturing locations.