[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8290]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       30-SOMETHING WORKING GROUP

  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. Sanchez); 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).

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