IndiaPost.com - Chivukula wins Outstanding Legislator award

NEW JERSEY: Deputy Speaker of NJ State Legislative Assembly, Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula was recently awarded the highly coveted ‘Outstanding Legislator’ award by the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce. Chivukula received this award for the progressive legislation he sponsored to help grow the state’s telecommunications and utilities industries and keep and attract more business to the state.

Chivukula is Chair, Telecommunications and Utilities Committee in the New Jersey General Assembly. Chivukula was among four state legislators to be honored by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Legislative Awards Reception held at Verizon’s corporate headquarters. The other awardees were Senate President Richard Codey (D-27/Essex County), Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance (R-23/Hunterdon and Warren Counties) and Assemblyman David Wolfe (R-10/Monmouth and Ocean Counties).

"Tonight’s honorees have been selected because they are working to improve the economic picture of our state," said Joan Verplanck, president of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. "New Jersey faces many challenges and we are fortunate to have individuals such as these advocating on behalf of the employer community, and working to help grow jobs in our state. Through their individual efforts in the areas of ethics reform, fiscal integrity, economic development, public education, and health care, our award winners are helping to ensure that New Jersey remains competitive with other states – and the rest of the world."

The Chamber selected its legislative award recipients based on their past voting records, bill sponsorships, committee votes, and overall history of supporting economic growth. The Chamber said Assemblyman Chivukula brings real-life experience from his engineering background with him to Trenton. As a member of the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee, he has been a true friend and advocate for business on issues ranging from eminent domain to energy conservation.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is a business advocacy organization based in Trenton. Created in 1911, the State Chamber staff represents its members on a wide range of business and education issues at the State House and in Washington. The organization also links the state’s local and regional chambers on issues of importance through its grassroots legislative network.