• Chamber of Commerce of United States of America
• Citizens for Kent County Farmland and Open Space Preservation
  
• Citizens for Traditional Values PAC
  
• Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce PAC
  
• Humane Society Legislative Fund
  
• League of Conservation Voters
  
• Michigan Agri-Business Association
  
• Michigan Association of Police Organizations (MAPO)
• Michigan Farm Bureau’s PAC AgriPac - “Friend of Agriculture”
  
• Michigan Restaurant Association
  
• NFIB’s PAC – SAFE (Save America’s Free Enterprise)
  
• National Association of Police Organizations, Inc. (NAPO)
  
• National Right to Life (NRL PAC)
  
• Ocean Champions
  
• Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM)
  
• Republican Women’s Forum of Kent County
  
• Republican Leadership Council (RLC)
  
• Right to Life of Michigan (RLM-PAC)
  
• Sierra Club

Special Honors and Awards

· Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Grand Valley State University, 2002.

· Honorary Doctorate
Michigan State University, 1998.

· Philip Hauge Abelson Prize
American Association for
the Advancement of Science (honors a public servant for exceptional contributions to advancing science, or a scientist or engineer for a distinguished career of scientific achievement and service to the community), 2002.

· Ralph Coe Roe Award
American Society of Mechanical Engineers ("for outstanding contribution toward a better public understanding and appreciation of the engineer's worth to contemporary society."), 2003.

· George E. Brown Jr. Science-Engineering-Technology Leadership Award
Science-Engineering-Technology
Work Group, 2005.

· Legislative Leadership Award
Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education, 2004.

· Rough Rider Award
Ripon Society, 2006.

· Lifetime Member
American Association of Physics Teachers, 2006.

· National Council for Science and the Environment Congressional Leadership Award 2003.

· Distinguished Alumni Award
Calvin College, 1996.

· Guardian of Small Business Award
National Federation of Independent Businesses, 103rd Congress, 104th, 105th, 106th, 107th, 108th.

· Thomas Jefferson Award
National Grocers Association, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006.

· Lawmaker of the Month
60-Plus Association, October 1996.
·
Spirit of Enterprise Award
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.

· Benjamin Franklin Public Policy Award, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, 107th Congress.

· Guardian of Seniors' Rights Award
60-Plus Association, 1994, 1996.

· Champion of the Merit Shop
Association of Builders and Contractors, 103rd Congress, 105th, 106th, 107th, 108th.

· Legislative Service Award
National Society of Professional Engineers, 2001.

· Special Award
American Society for Engineering Education, 2000.

· Public Service Award
American Chemical Society, 2000.

· Champion of Science
the Science Coalition, 1999.

· Special Award
ENC, 2001.

· Special Award
American Mathematical Society, American Physical Society and
American Astronomical Society.

· Federal 100 Award
Federal Computer Week, 1996.

· National Association of Children's Hospitals Award
National Association of Children's Hospitals, 1996.

· Friend of the Farm Bureau Award
American Farm Bureau Federation, 104th Congress, 106th, 107th.

· Golden Bulldog Award
Watchdogs of the Treasury,
104th Congress, 106th.

· Guardian of Medicare Award
United Seniors Association, 1995.

· Taxpayers Friend Award
National Taxpayers Union, 1995.

· National Security Leadership Award
Reserve Officers Association, Navy League, American Security Council
and National Security Caucus, 1994.

· Outstanding Citizen Award
Lake County Riverside
Property Association, 1992.

· Outstanding Public Servant
Michigan Public Health Association, 1991.

· Michigan Environmental
Legislator of the Year
Michigan Environmental Defense, 1990.

· Legislator of the Year
National Association of
Dam Safety Officials, 1990.

· Special Award
Michigan Department of Health, 1990.

· Citizen Recycler of the Year
Michigan Recycling Coalition, 1989.

· Presidential Award
Michigan Recreation and Park Association, 1989.

· Legislator of the Year
Michigan Associations of Professions, 1989.

· Special Recognition Award
Michigan Society of Registered
Land Surveyors, 1989.

· Distinguished Service Award
Healthcare Financial
Management Association, 1989.

· Special Award
Michigan Association for
Counseling and Development, 1989.

· Outstanding Public Servant Award
Michigan Paralyzed
Veterans of America, 1988.

· Legislative Conservationist of the Year
Michigan United Conservation Clubs, 1988.

· Award of Gratitude
Michigan Head Injury Alliance, 1988.

· Public Service Award
Michigan Non-Profit Homes Association, 1988.

· Special Recognition Award
National Spinal Cord Injury Association, 1988.

· Michigan Legislator of the Year
Michigan Council for
Maternal and Child Health, 1987, 1996.

· Distinguished Service Award
Association of Independent
Colleges and Universities, 1986.

· Outstanding Elected Public Official
West Michigan
Environmental Action Council, 1986.

· Public Service Achievement Award
American Lung Association, 1986.

· Honorary Law Membership
Michigan Association of Osteopathic
Physicians and Surgeons, 1986.

· Public Service Award
American Cancer Society, 1986.

· Legislative Achievement Award
1983-84.

· Celebration on the Grand Award
City of Grand Rapids, 1980.

· Outstanding Service Award
Kent County, Michigan, 1975 - 1982.

· Outstanding Educator of America Award
1970, 1973.