Millennials today are more likely to be entrepreneurs, will switch jobs more often than any generation before them, and are more connected to the world through technology and social media than any generation previously. For these reasons, among others, they think about government and policy-making differently.
Last week, in response to these changing demographics, two Congressional Millennials--Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), the youngest woman in Congress--launched the Congressional Future Caucus, which hopes to bring young people back to being involved with their government so that the next generation has strong leadership. In a statement from co-chairs Schock and Gabbard, they explained the mission of the Future Caucus as “focusing on developing pragmatic solutions to the policy issues that impact the next generation of American leaders and ensuring that today’s college graduates can become tomorrow’s innovators and entrepreneurs”.
Supporters in Congress include Democratic Reps. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), Joseph Kennedy (Mass.) and Patrick Murphy (Fla.), along with Republican Rep. Todd Young (Ind.). The launch was held on Capitol Hill at the Rayburn building. with most attendees Millennials themselves. DC Bureau Chief for Buzzfeed.com John Stanton hosted the launch, and was joined by Steven Olikara, co-founder and president of the Millennial Action Project.
Olikara commended Millennials, saying that there are so many innovative solutions government can engage with, but these solutions do not necessarily fit just the "left" or "right." This is where the Future Caucus and the Millennial Action Project come in. “Disunity of political leadership is the greatest threat to our democracy,” he stated, continuing that we should be “diverse, not divided, for building bridges of cooperation makes this country great."
Aneesh Chopra, Senior Advisor for The Advisory Board Company also joined the panel. Chopra has great expectations for Millennials, referencing the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) that was halted quickly after word spread the bill online and young people participated in the largest online protest against the legislation. “Someone has to punch a wall in the notion that we can’t solve current issues, and it has been proven that this wall is paper thin. Millennials will be writing the next chapter of American democracy,” said Chopra.
Rep. Gabbard reminded attendees that the issues she hears about from constituents in her home state of Hawaii are the same that all Congressional leaders are confronted with. Gabbard also reiterated the notion that taking the time to meet people and make connections is what drives innovation and change. Gabbard encouraged those in attendance to remember that “we become a product of our environment."
When asked how the Future Caucus will break with tradition, Congressman Aaron Schock replied that the focus will be long-term, and not waiting until a moment of crisis; the first step is cooperation. Schock said, “Millennials are perfectly positioned to create sustainable policy solutions.”
Scott Case, CEO of Startup American Partnership and CTO of Priceline.com, urged Millennials to learn the system and work with the system instead of fighting it. When asked if change can occur, especially in today’s government gridlock, Case responded that he is positive. He noted that an educated population is the fuel for change. “Think about where you have been successful, find something you care about to push through the system," he concluded.
Case also pointed out that issues must be presented to Millennials not in a right and wrong way, but instead by laying out all the facts so that everyone may understand an issue and come up with the best solution--not just one that necessarily aligns with a particular political party. Schock, a Republican, and Gabbard, a Democrat, put themselves forward as the first sign of the cooperation young leaders are passionate about, and to demonstrate that it is time to put aside partisanship and look for answers to the problems facing the U.S. in order to create better future for today’s Millennials and future Americans.
Photo of Reps. Aaron Schock and Tulsi Gabbard via @AaronSchock on Instagram.
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Millennials Take Action on Capitol Hill
September 25, 2013
Millennials today are more likely to be entrepreneurs, will switch jobs more often than any generation before them, and are more connected to the world through technology and social media than any generation previously. For these reasons, among others, they think about government and policy-making differently.
Last week, in response to these changing demographics, two Congressional Millennials--Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), the youngest woman in Congress--launched the Congressional Future Caucus, which hopes to bring young people back to being involved with their government so that the next generation has strong leadership. In a statement from co-chairs Schock and Gabbard, they explained the mission of the Future Caucus as “focusing on developing pragmatic solutions to the policy issues that impact the next generation of American leaders and ensuring that today’s college graduates can become tomorrow’s innovators and entrepreneurs”.
Supporters in Congress include Democratic Reps. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), Joseph Kennedy (Mass.) and Patrick Murphy (Fla.), along with Republican Rep. Todd Young (Ind.). The launch was held on Capitol Hill at the Rayburn building. with most attendees Millennials themselves. DC Bureau Chief for Buzzfeed.com John Stanton hosted the launch, and was joined by Steven Olikara, co-founder and president of the Millennial Action Project.
Olikara commended Millennials, saying that there are so many innovative solutions government can engage with, but these solutions do not necessarily fit just the "left" or "right." This is where the Future Caucus and the Millennial Action Project come in. “Disunity of political leadership is the greatest threat to our democracy,” he stated, continuing that we should be “diverse, not divided, for building bridges of cooperation makes this country great."
Aneesh Chopra, Senior Advisor for The Advisory Board Company also joined the panel. Chopra has great expectations for Millennials, referencing the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) that was halted quickly after word spread the bill online and young people participated in the largest online protest against the legislation. “Someone has to punch a wall in the notion that we can’t solve current issues, and it has been proven that this wall is paper thin. Millennials will be writing the next chapter of American democracy,” said Chopra.
Rep. Gabbard reminded attendees that the issues she hears about from constituents in her home state of Hawaii are the same that all Congressional leaders are confronted with. Gabbard also reiterated the notion that taking the time to meet people and make connections is what drives innovation and change. Gabbard encouraged those in attendance to remember that “we become a product of our environment."
When asked how the Future Caucus will break with tradition, Congressman Aaron Schock replied that the focus will be long-term, and not waiting until a moment of crisis; the first step is cooperation. Schock said, “Millennials are perfectly positioned to create sustainable policy solutions.”
Scott Case, CEO of Startup American Partnership and CTO of Priceline.com, urged Millennials to learn the system and work with the system instead of fighting it. When asked if change can occur, especially in today’s government gridlock, Case responded that he is positive. He noted that an educated population is the fuel for change. “Think about where you have been successful, find something you care about to push through the system," he concluded.
Case also pointed out that issues must be presented to Millennials not in a right and wrong way, but instead by laying out all the facts so that everyone may understand an issue and come up with the best solution--not just one that necessarily aligns with a particular political party. Schock, a Republican, and Gabbard, a Democrat, put themselves forward as the first sign of the cooperation young leaders are passionate about, and to demonstrate that it is time to put aside partisanship and look for answers to the problems facing the U.S. in order to create better future for today’s Millennials and future Americans.
Photo of Reps. Aaron Schock and Tulsi Gabbard via @AaronSchock on Instagram.
