Nominations sought for Levin Center award

The Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy is seeking nominations for the Carl Levin Award for Effective Oversight 2023 to be given to one or more legislators at the national, state or local level who have demonstrated an extraordinary effort to conduct fact-based, bipartisan oversight.

A central goal of the Levin Center is to advance effective oversight by legislative bodies.

This award was established to recognize legislators whose work exemplifies the kind of bipartisan, fact-based approach to oversight championed by Senator Levin during his 36 years in the U.S. Senate.

Too often, according to a news release issued by the center, oversight is marred by politically or ideologically driven conduct that damages public confidence in government, diminishes legislative comity, distorts public policy, and wastes taxpayer dollars.

When conducted well, on a bipartisan basis, with a commitment to finding the facts and uncovering the truth, oversight fulfills the checks and balances envisioned by the U.S. Constitution, according to the center. and at the same time fosters bipartisan legislative relationships, builds public trust in legislatures, and improves public policy and government programs.

The Carl Levin Award for Effective Oversight will be presented to an individual(s) who serves or has served in a legislative body in the United States and who has led or played a central role in an oversight investigation conducted on a bipartisan basis with a dedication to fact-finding.

Candidates eligible to receive the Carl Levin Award for Effective Oversight must meet the following criteria:

• The candidate must be or have been a member of a legislative body at the national, state, tribal, or local level and must have played a central role in the conduct of an oversight investigation by such legislative body.

• The oversight investigation must have been conducted on a bipartisan basis and the candidate must have played a significant role in ensuring the bipartisan nature of the investigation.

• The oversight investigation must have been focused on obtaining the facts underlying the subject of the investigation, and the candidate must have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to that effort.

• The candidate must have provided recognized and significant leadership in the conduct of the investigation.

• The candidate must have exhibited a high degree of integrity and a commitment to legislative comity and civility.

Those interested in nominating an individual should visit https://levin-center.org/levin-center-at-work/awards/carl-levin-effective-oversight-award.