We are on the doorstep of a new era in politics -- one where young people matter. This week six U.S. Senators from both sides of the aisle introduced Senate Resolution 608 supporting the establishment of a Presidential Youth Council.
Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) joined Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) in authoring the resolution, which was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), and Mark Begich (D-AK).
The resolution demonstrates to the administration that not only young people and over 100 youth-serving organizations think a Presidential Youth Council is a good idea, but that our nation's policy makers do too.
The resolution builds on the momentum created this summer by Congressman John Larson (D-CT) when he introduced H.J.Res 115 in support of a Presidential Youth Council co-sponsored by Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL). In addition, this June the White House Council For Community Solutions recommended in their final report to President Obama that he should create a Presidential Youth Council.
Most importantly, the resolution represents that our nation's policy makers are starting to hear us. According to the non-partisan CIRCLE at Tufts University young people decided the 2012 election comprising 19 percent of the electorate. Since we showed up I think it is only fair to ask for a seat at the table.
"The least we can do is pull up a chair for you to join the discussion" said Senator Tom Udall upon introduction. Senator Scott Brown added, "It sends a very powerful message to the people in Washington that kids matter, that the youth of America matter."
As the Chair of the Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council I could not be more excited. This resolution is the culmination of more than eighty meetings on Capitol Hill that the campaign leadership team and I have conducted over the past year.
The resolution represents an important step forward, but it is not the end goal. President Obama will ultimately be the one to issue the executive order creating the Presidential Youth Council. Next up, we will take the support from young people, organizations, and Members of Congress to the White House with our policy proposal and ask President Obama to create a Presidential Youth Council.
We need your support. Share the good news and take five minutes to write your member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor one of our resolutions. It is together that we have been successful and it is together that we will create a Presidential Youth Council giving the 104 million Americans under the age of 24 a seat at the table.