Association To Present Congressional Awards at Centennial Gala in Washington, D.C.
Arlington, Va. – The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) today announced that it will present its inaugural Thomas Edison Award for Lifetime Achievement in Electrification and Benjamin Franklin Award for Next Generation Leadership in Electrification awards to four Members of Congress at its Centennial Gala, to be held in Washington, D.C., on June 10, 2026.
Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Russell Fry (R-SC) will receive the Benjamin Franklin Award for Next Generation Leadership in Electrification, which recognizes members of Congress shaping future-focused energy and manufacturing policy. The Thomas Edison Award for Lifetime Achievement in Electrification, which recognizes sustained, career-long leadership advancing America’s electroindustry, will be presented to Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL).
These awards are presented to lawmakers with a record of demonstrated leadership on energy and infrastructure policy, as well as sustained, constructive engagement with the U.S. electroindustry on issues of national, regional, and local consequence.
“As NEMA marks 100 years of leadership, innovation, and impact, this special evening brings together industry leaders, NEMA members, Washington policymakers, and distinguished guests to celebrate our shared legacy and the future of the U.S. electroindustry,” said NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips. “Recognizing members of Congress who are leading on the policy issues that shape this industry’s growth and contributions to America is an important part of our celebration.”
The gala marks NEMA’s 100th anniversary and is expected to draw a broad cross-section of senior industry executives, federal policymakers, and allied stakeholders from across the energy and electroindustry landscapes. The gala will include NEMA Board Members; member company leaders in technical disciplines; members of Congress and congressional staff; representatives from key federal agencies; and leaders from adjacent industries and aligned associations.
A centerpiece of the evening will be NEMA’s Product and Innovation Showcase, a museum-style timeline tracing the technological breakthroughs that have marked the U.S. electroindustry’s evolution and spotlighting what is coming next.
Since its creation in 1926, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has worked closely with policymakers in Washington and across all 50 states to shape public policies that support a safe, reliable, and resilient electrical ecosystem that meet the needs of American families, communities, and businesses.
NEMA’s Centennial Gala, sponsored by NEMA member companies Acuity Brands, Hitachi Energy, Lutron, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. (MEPPI), Nidec Corporation, Phoenix Contact, Raycap, Inc., Robroy Industries, Regal Rexnord Corporation, Reinhausen Manufacturing, S&C Electric Company, and Weidmüller, Inc., is a once-in-a-century opportunity to celebrate the progress and potential of the U.S. electroindustry.
Members of the press interested in learning more about NEMA’s Centennial Gala are invited to reach out to NEMA Director of Communications Bennett Artman at Bennett.Artman@nema.org. All other queries are to be directed to NEMA Managing Director of Marketing and Business Development Erica Quirk at Erica.Quirk@nema.org.