Colorado’s Rep. Mike Coffman was one of two U.S. House members to receive the inaugural Spirit of America Award from Ohio’s University of Mount Union.

He was cited for seeking bipartisan solutions in health care, veterans affairs, immigration reform and border security matters. The Republican from Aurora was joined by Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut.

“So often today it’s the more partisan voices that are recognized by their respective parties as being the champions,” shared Coffman upon receiving the award. “It is so nice to have an organization that represents those that are in the middle of trying to make things happen.”

Coffman added, “I’m so honored to receive this recognition, which only furthers my belief that when Members of Congress work across the aisle to improve the lives of our constituents, better and more effective results are achieved.”

Former Sen. Alan Simpson, a Republican from Wyoming, presented the award at the ceremony in Washington. He is a co-chair of the program to honor the late Ralph Regula, a former congressman and Mount Union alumnus. The award is sponsored by the Ralph and Mary Regula Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement at Mount Union.

Regula, a Republican, was known for seeking bipartisanship during his 36 years in the U.S. House. He died last year. He retired from Congress in 2009, just as Coffman, a former state treasurer and secretary of state in Colorado, was beginning his first term there.

Coffman faces a fellow veteran, Democrat Jason Crow, in the November general election to represent the district in eastern metro Denver.