For immediate release: March 4, 2020

Contact: (202) 216-1008

   

Ripon Society & Franklin Center Hold Reception with Problem Solvers Caucus

“At a time when trust in government is at or near an all-time low, their effort to work across the aisle provides a model for how challenges should be addressed in Washington.”

 

WASHINGTON, DC – With partisanship on the rise, The Ripon Society and Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange held a reception yesterday afternoon with a group that is dedicated to breaking through the political gridlock and reaching bipartisan agreement on Capitol Hill. 

 

The group is called the Problem Solvers Caucus.  Founded in 2013, the Caucus is comprised of 48 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives – 24 Republicans and 24 Democrats – who have been working together to find common ground on a number of critical challenges facing our nation.

 

Over the past year, the Problem Solvers played a key role in helping to repeal the onerous Cadillac Tax on health benefits and provide funding for the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund.  Caucus members also played an important role working behind the scenes with the Trump Administration to approve the new trade deal with Mexico and Canada. 

 

Most recently, members of the Problem Solvers met yesterday at the White House with Vice President Pence to discuss and receive a briefing on the spread of the novel coronavirus around the world and its potential impact here in the United States. “The American people rightly expect us to rise above partisan politics, unite together, and immediately pass an emergency funding bill to combat this threat to our country and families,” the group said in a joint statement following the meeting. 

 

Members of the Problems Solvers who attended the Ripon/Franklin reception later in the day included U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R/NY-23), who serves as Co-Chair of the Caucus and delivered remarks to kick-off yesterday’s event.  Also attending were: U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R/NE-2); U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson (R/OH-6); U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R/SD-AL); U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R/OH-14); U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D/IL-3); U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria (D/VA-2); U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (D/MN-3); U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D/IL-10); U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R/PA-11); U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R/MN-08); U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D/NY-3); U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R/MI-6); and, U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins (R/KS-2).

 

“We appreciate the Problem Solvers taking the time to join us yesterday afternoon to discuss their important work,” stated Jim Conzelman, who serves as President & CEO of The Ripon Society and Franklin Center.  “At a time when trust in government is at or near an all-time low, their effort to work across the aisle provides a model for how challenges should be addressed in Washington.  The latest public health emergency is a good example.  Indeed, if there was ever a time for Republicans and Democrats to put politics aside and come together on a solution that will help every American, it is now.  We appreciate the Problem Solvers’ continuing leadership in that regard.”

 

To view additional photos from yesterday’s reception, please click here.

 

The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 — Ripon, Wisconsin.  One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success.  These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.

 

Founded in 1978, The Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to enhancing global understanding of important international issues.  The Franklin Center brings together Members of the U.S. Congress and their international parliamentary counterparts as well as experts from the Diplomatic corps, foreign officials, senior private sector representatives, scholars, and other public policy experts.  Through regular conferences and events where leading international opinion leaders share ideas, the Franklin Center promotes enlightened, balanced, and unbiased international policy discussion on major international issues.

 

--###--

 

 

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER & SOUNDCLOUD