The Congressional Service Award recognizes members of the United States Congress or a federal agency for their outstanding support of federal education legislation and Educational Service Agencies (ESAs). Each year, AESA honors one or more members of Congress who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and advocacy in advancing the federal role and funding of ESAs.
Criteria for the Award
- Strong support for expanding the federal role and funding for ESAs.
- Advocacy for positions on federal legislation that aligns with AESA's mission.
- Leadership on or membership in congressional committees sponsoring ESA-related legislation.
Recognizing our elected officials for their support is crucial to advancing the work of ESAs.
This award is presented at the Advocacy in Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
2025 Recipient
Glenn "GT" Thompson
U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District
At the 2025 Advocacy in Action Conference, AESA honored Rep. Glenn Thompson (PA) with the Congressional Service Award. In the 50th anniversary year of IDEA, Rep. Thompson was recognized for his tireless advocacy for full IDEA funding. His staff accepted the award on his behalf. Read more here.
