30 Something Working Group

30-SOMETHING WORKING GROUP -- (House of Representatives - May 04, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the tremendous leadership of two of our colleagues, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), and the 30-Something Working Group for taking the lead on this vital effort to talk to the next generation of Americans about issues that they care about.

Tonight, during the Special Order, our 30-Something Working Group has 1 hour to speak to the young people of America. It consists of 14 Members of Congress in their 30s, as it said. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) is in his 20s, just turned 30. All regions of the United States are represented in the group and all aspects and the beautiful diversity of our country: the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Carson); the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Davis); the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ford); the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson); the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy); the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind); the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin); the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen); the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson); the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek); the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan); the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sánchez); the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith); and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner). How proud we are of them.

Democrats are committed to listening to and working with young people on issues they care about and that impact their lives, jobs, the economy, health care, higher education, globalization, and protecting the beautiful environment that is God's creation.

Over the past 8 months, our 30-Something Members have been on the road across America beginning a new dialogue with the next generation. Thirty-Something Members have traveled to Louisiana, Alabama, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Michigan, Florida, through the States that I have mentioned, their home States, talking to young people to hear their views on critical issues.

Two weeks ago, the 30-Something Working Group cohosted the Next Generation Democratic Summit. More than 250 18- to 30-year-olds came to Capitol Hill to discuss their concerns with Members of Congress and to share their insights about how to inspire other young people to be more engaged in government.

Today, we are launching another part of our effort to reach out to the next generation. This regular 30-Something hour is an exciting opportunity for House Democrats to have a national discussion with young Americans across the country. We certainly invite response from the young Americans.

Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues well know, all of us here in Congress have a responsibility to the next generation. We have received a precious gift, a privilege, of representing our districts in Congress and the wonderful responsibility to make the future better for the next generation. Not only do we have that responsibility as a Congress, but each of us has a responsibility to do that. Every decision that we make has an important bearing on the future. No one is impacted more by that than our young people.

So I am so very proud of our 30-Something Working Group and the leadership that they have assumed under the exceptional leadership of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).

END