I've received many of these calls over the past several months. The caller gets through my receptionist by saying Congressman Tom Cole would like to give me any award. I actually sent an email to Cole's office advising him of this sleazy use of his name, but that obviously didn't help. I called back the number today, 2/28, and again insisted that my name be removed from the list.

Received a call asked for me, said I was unavailable. Claimed she was from some congressman's office and they wanted honor me for being a business leader.  Asked me for a fax number, I told we don't have one.  Left her name, Linda Norton and number 1 877 829 4742.  This all completely ridiculous since my business is essentially non-existent.

Just got called again, knowing this place is a fraud, I asked for their mailing address, the woman "Justine" replied, "We don't have a mailing address". I said, "So you don't exist anywhere?" She said, "We exist." I said, "Are you calling me from Washington?" She said, "we are in Washington." I said, "So what's your address?" She stammered, lol, "Said go to mrccd.com all of our information is there." and hung up. I think I'll report this to the attorney general, seriously, they are claiming to be a part of a congressional committee, using a congress person's name, etc., can't be legal and should be stopped.

I got the message on my voice mail a few days ago, but what seemed a little weird to me was that my business is a nonprofit organization that just incorporated in September, just got tax exemption in October, hasn't even filed a tax return yet, and has so far kept a pretty low profile.  So I wondered what I'd done that was so great.  I figured I'd been confused with someone else with the same name as mine, but I also thought a Congressional Order of Merit would look pretty good on my office wall, so I figured I'd try to snag it anyway.  I was about to call, but then decided to do a little research and make sure I was really calling who I thought I was calling.  

I'm all for helping small businesses, especially the ones that are actually small, and I'm thoroughly in favor of revamping the IRS (thugs), but I suppose I don't trust an organization that uses fake awards and deceptive telemarketing to further its agenda, so I guess I won't be paying for this prestigious honor today.

Got the same call, and it was similar to a call I received a few months back offering me a trip to meet President Bush. Odd, since I have a single-proprieter part-time business as a personal trainer, but both calls referred to me as a "prominent business leader in Alaska." Also odd because I've been a registered Democrat for more than 20 years. Still, my mom would be so proud if I received the Congressional Order of Merit....

our office got a call today stating they wanted to honor my boss as well!

1-877-829-4742 Got the same call. They wanted our fax number to fax info. Asked them to mail info and they refused saying they could only fax. Get enough junk faxes. Screw them

I just received a call from these clowns, and I have not called them back. I really don't think that I am going to. It was the same thing, Tom Cole wanting me to join their exclusive club only for people who will pay to join. Sorry, Tom I'm already a member of NFIB and NWYC. I also remember getting a letter from them last year asking me the same thing. Should I tell them that I left the Republican Party for letting me down one too many times?

Same type of call as reported by Mary, Magnum & Rebekah; however...
Small business owners truly interested in protecting their rights and having a voice as a small/independent business owner, absolutely must check out the:

NFIB -National Federation of Independent Business- The Voice of Small Business! Voted by Fotune Magazine as the #1 business advocate in America!
http://www.nfib.com/page/aboutHome

Thanks Wendy for your posting.  Our business in Wisconsin received the same message via fax.  They said they were following up (which is not true) and will include our name as Congressional Order of Merit so we can represent WI on the WI Advvisory Council.  Gave a # of 877-829-4742 to call.  Sounds pretty fishy to us.

Received a call from Wendy Robert stating that she was calling from Congressman Tom Coles Office for the Busniess Advisory Committee and wanted to recognize my outstanding service via the Congressional Order of Merit and requested that i call her at (877) 829-4742.  It sounded like B.S. so i called.

I called and they answered NRCC (National Republican Congressional Committee).  They played a recorded message from Oklahoma Congessman Tom Cole and then asked me to join the Business Advisory Council.  I was still suspicious and asked for more information; they provided me with this website: http://businessadvisorycouncil.org/  and www.NRCC.org  

Essentailly what they are trying to do is grow their membership so they will have a louder voice in D. C. to fight Tax Increases that especially effect small businesses and are attempting to do away with the I.R.S. as we all know it.

I hope this helps someone else who might have received this call.  It does seem like a legitamate organization however you need to research it for yourself and make your own assessment.

The Business Advisory Committee / Tom Cole are using another number. MY boss is getting the Congressional Order of Merit as well!  The caller was Joseph Delp.

http://www.cole.house.gov/