U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and U.S. Representative Darren Soto (D-FL) are the inaugural recipients of the American Cleaning Institute's "Champion of Clean" Awards.


U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) are the inaugural recipients of the American Cleaning Institute’s (ACI) “Champion of Clean” Awards, which recognize leadership in advancing science-based policy, manufacturing innovation, and public health.

Sen. Capito and Rep. Soto were recognized during ACI’s Centennial Celebration, held at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum on Capitol Hill.

“Champions of Clean like Senator Capito and Representative Soto are crucial to the economy-driving success of our supply chain and its effort to deliver essential products that allow homes, schools, hospitals, workplaces, and public spaces to remain clean, safe, and functional,” says Jennifer Abril, ACI President & CEO. “They stand out for their pro-science, pro-innovation policies in Congress, which enable the cleaning products industry to deliver on improving public health.”

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Sen. Capito has been a driver behind the policies allowing Americans to benefit from cleaning product innovations and getting those products to market, while also working collaboratively with both sides of the aisle on improvements to unlock the groundbreaking potential of new chemistries for the cleaning products sector.

“The cleaning products industry supports good-paying jobs in West Virginia and across the country, strengthening American manufacturing and keeping families, schools, workplaces, and communities healthy,” shares Sen. Capito. “I am honored to receive ACI’s Champion of Clean Award, and I commend ACI’s work over the past 100 years to drive sound science, ground-breaking innovation, and pro-growth policies that help manufacturers invest and compete here in America.”

Rep. Soto is a leading member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he has championed policies that support the cleaning products industry’s focus on circularity, sustainability, and recycling innovation.

“A strong cleaning products sector is absolutely essential for my district and the broader Orlando community. With our world-leading theme parks, hotels, and venues for tourists, business travelers, and families driving millions of visitors to our city every year, clean spaces keep families safe and our economy humming,” says Rep. Soto. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry’s rapid production and distribution of hand sanitizer and soap played a critical role in protecting our communities and keeping essential workers safe. I am grateful to receive ACI’s Champion of Clean Award, and I look forward to continuing our work to support circularity, innovation, and supply chain resilience across the cleaning products industry.”

The awards were presented as part of ACI’s Centennial Celebration, which marked 100 years of advancing public health, driving innovation, and supporting the essential role of cleaning in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. As ACI looks to its next century, the Institute will continue working with policymakers at both the state and federal levels to support science-based policies that strengthen American manufacturing and help communities thrive.