JEFFERSON CITY—State Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, offered a Senate Resolution in honor of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, who has been selected to receive the prestigious Harry S. Truman Public Service Award for his work on behalf of the constituents of Kansas City and Eastern Jackson County.

“Congressman Cleaver is the epitome of a public servant, an elected official who works tirelessly not to better his own life, but those of the people who sent him to Washington,” said Sen. LeVota.

“His civility and openness to compromise, for the best of everyone, is an increasingly rare thing in American politics. We’re lucky to have him as our congressman and blessed to have a representative who will always put the interests of his constituents first. I offer him my heartfelt congratulations on the award.”

Representative Cleaver served 12 years on the City Council of Kansas City before being elected as the city’s first African-American mayor in 1991. He held that position until 1999. In 2004, he was elected to Congress, where he serves on the House Financial Services Committee.

While serving in Congress, Rep. Cleaver, the former Senior Pastor at St. James Methodist Church in Kansas City, would return to his home district each weekend to preach to the 2,600 member congregation. His son, the Reverend Emanuel Cleaver III, now leads the congregation.