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This week, the Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School revealed the Bipartisan Index Rankings for Congress in 2023 for the first session of the 118th Congress. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) has been ranked as the most bipartisan Member of Congress for the fifth consecutive year.

Dan Diller, Policy Director of the Lugar Center, praised Fitzpatrick's commitment to bipartisanship. “For the fifth consecutive year, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick has set an unrivaled standard in the House on the Bipartisan Index,” he said. "His place atop the House rankings year after year isn’t an accident. The foundation of his prolific legislative activity is based on the principle that bipartisanship produces the best results for his constituents and the country.”

Fitzpatrick expressed gratitude for this recognition from the Lugar Center and emphasized his belief in bipartisanship as a solution to hyper-partisanship. “I am honored to once again be recognized by the Lugar Center as the most independent and bipartisan Member of Congress in the entire nation," he said. "Hyper-partisanship is the single biggest threat facing our Nation. Bipartisanship is the only remedy that will save and heal our nation."

The Congressman further elaborated on his choice to follow a path of cooperation over partisanship. “Which of these paths one chooses determines whether they desire to be part of the problem or part of the solution," he explained. "If one chooses partisanship and condemns those who think differently, they are part of the problem. If one chooses bipartisanship and seeks to build bridges with those who think differently, they are part of the solution. I have chosen, and will continue to choose, the path of bipartisanship and problem solving because I love America."

The Lugar Center and Georgetown University Bipartisan Index measures how often a member of Congress introduces bills that succeed in attracting co-sponsors from members of the other party, and how often they co-sponsor a bill introduced from across the aisle. The Index is based on a formula applied uniformly to all members. It uses a historical standard based on three decades of data to compare current members to historical averages. The Index does not make subjective judgments about individual members or bills and is intended to serve as a critical resource for voters and the media, encouraging lawmakers to be more bipartisan when writing or co-sponsoring legislation.