Cambridge, MA – In landmark action to signal a renewed commitment to civil and effective government, freshman members of Congress have issued a statement prompted by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics (IOP) promising an effort toward collaboration and cooperation in solving the issues facing the nation.
The 13 Republicans and 19 Democrats attending the IOP program held last week halted a panel on “Making this a Reform Congress” to caucus and discuss how to work across party lines. Their statement is available .
“We at the IOP hope to support this extraordinary freshman class’s commitment by arranging to work with these members next year and to bring them together for follow-up programs. Their unprecedented statement deserves encouragement from all Americans,” said Bill Delahunt, Interim Director of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics.
In 2016, the biennial program was held December 6-8 in collaboration with the the and . The program is nationally recognized as the preeminent educational and preparatory program for newly elected Republican and Democratic Members of the House of Representatives. More than 700 current and former representatives from both parties have attended the program since its inception in 1972.
The agenda is designed to ensure thoughtful bipartisan discussions on a variety of public policy issues. Experts and practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds cover topics including the federal budget process, key issues in domestic and foreign policy, and the expanding role of innovation and technology in government. The program also provides guidance on a host of practical issues, including setting up and staffing congressional offices, best practices for media relations, and managing family/work life balance in Congress.
The members will be sworn in on Jan. 3, 2017.