State Representative Leo Berman (R-Tyler) was named a recipient of the Defender of the American Dream award by Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans.

The AFP Defender of the American Dream award recognizes legislators who consistently vote to for free enterprise, support the principles of entrepreneurship, fiscal and regulatory restraint and taxpayer protections.

Peggy Venable, the AFPTexas director, stated this is the second year Americans for Prosperity-Texas has rated legislative votes and issued the legislative report cards. Seventeen legislators received the award this year with Representative Berman being among the top winners in the Texas House. Ms. Venable said, "We congratulate and thank these legislators as champions for taxpayers. We appreciate their leadership in keeping taxes low while fulfilling the appropriate role in government."

"I am pleased to be named as an AFP Defender of the American Dream," said Representative Berman. "I pledge to continue working to keep taxes low, support free enterprise, and to limit the extent of state government on the lives of my constituents."

Ms. Venable will be in Tyler on September 11, 2008 to present the award to Mr. Berman in a ceremony held in conjunction with the Smith County Republican Club meeting. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Potpourri House, 3320 Troup Highway, Tyler, Texas.