U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo received the National Venture Capital Association’s American Spirit Award, becoming the first lawmaker to receive the honor.

The Palo Alto Democrat was selected by the NVCA, which is made up of more than 400 venture capital firms, due to her Innovation Agenda, which called for investing in small business, education, science and research and development. She was honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

She is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and played a key role in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which funneled more than $183 billion to small businesses and other sectors.