Colorado's Joe Neguse receives JFK Library's New Frontier Award for bipartisan, service approach

The John F. Kennedy Library and Harvard University Institute of Politics this week named U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse as a recipient of the 2023 John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award, citing the Colorado Democrat's work to "restore hope" in democratic institutions.

The award committee, led by Jack Schlossberg — the former president's only grandson — lauded Neguse for building bipartisan legislative coalitions and establishing service town halls, an innovation that encourages constituents to volunteer on a local project before meeting to discuss the lawmaker's recent activities.

Neguse, the committee said, "has been a champion of servant-leadership, from the mountains of the state of Colorado to the halls of the U.S. House of Representatives."

The third-term lawmaker has been recognized by national organizations as one of Washington's most bipartisan and effective lawmakers. He's the founder or co-founder of three congressional caucuses that aim to bridge partisan divides, including the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, Bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus and the Congressional Colorado River Caucus.

The annual award recognizes two Americans under age 40 — one who's serving in elected office and one who isn't — for changing the country with their commitment to public service. Calling honorees "role models for a new generation of public servants," the committee says the awards highlight qualities embodied and admired by JFK, including "civic mindedness, pragmatism, vision and tenacity in identifying and addressing public challenges."

This year's other recipient is Civil Rights Corps founder Alec Karakatsanis, cited for his work to reform pretrial incarceration and detention policies.

Previous recipients included New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who were both honored before they hit the national stage, when they were young mayors — of Newark, New Jersey, and South Bend, Indiana, respectively.

The son of Eritrean immigrants and the first Black lawmaker elected to Congress from Colorado, Neguse represents the 2nd Congressional District, which covers Boulder and Larimer counties and much of the northwest corner of the state. As chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee — the party's No. 5 leadership position — he's the highest-ranking member of House leadership from the state in more than 85 years. He sits on the Judiciary, Rules and Natural Resources committees.

In August, Neguse published "Courage in The People's House: Nine Trailblazing Representatives Who Shaped America," a historical look at House members who advanced the nation's ideals. The book, he told Colorado Politics, was inspired in part by JFK's enduring "Profiles in Courage," which took the same approach to U.S. senators.

Neguse said in a statement that he was humbled and honored to receive the New Frontier Award.

“In the sixties, when President Kennedy spoke of the New Frontier, he noted that our nation was facing an inflection point — that we, in fact, were standing on the precipice of change, as he called on a new generation of Americans to serve our great country," said Neguse.

"I believe, at this moment in time, that the American people find themselves standing at a similar crossroads. A time at which it has never been more important to find ways to serve our communities, foster greater collaboration and dialogue with those with whom we may disagree, and find common ground. I believe a willingness to work with others in good faith will help us address the serious challenges our country faces, and am committed to doing exactly that."