DOVER, Del. – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Representative John Carney (all D-Del.) hosted their annual Congressional Youth Conference for more than 70 Delaware high school juniors and seniors at Delaware State University Tuesday. Students interacted with members of their Congressional delegation and attended breakout sessions on cybersecurity, leadership through service, and digital media’s impact on the news. 

 

Students participated in group discussions with the delegation on a variety of subjects including college affordability, minimum wage, foreign policy, healthcare and immigration. The late U.S. Senator Bill Roth organized the first Youth Leadership Conference in 1969, hosting it annually until 2000.

 

“It was a great pleasure to get to visit with some of the young people that give me great hope for Delaware and America’s future,” Senator Carper said. “I encouraged them to pursue careers that give them meaning – whether that’s in the public or private sector – but I shared with them that my own career in public service has been incredibly demanding and rewarding and I hope that many of them consider serving their community, their state, or their country.”

 

“Today’s event was designed to encourage students to consider a career in public service,” said Senator Coons. “The everyday challenges facing our country can be solved, and they can be solved by this incredibly compelling and capable young generation. The students we met today are enthusiastic about embracing diversity, excited about the opportunities the world has to offer, and clear-eyed about the challenges that lay ahead. That gives me tremendous hope that they can and will accomplish even more than the generation before them to leave our world a better place.”

 

“The Congressional Youth Conference is an excellent way for young people in Delaware to learn about the importance of public service, career opportunities, and some of the critical challenges facing the nation,” said Congressman Carney.  “It’s also a great opportunity for me to hear the opinions of young people regarding the issues and priorities they find most important.  We had a productive discussion today, and it’s clear that these students are well on their way to being leaders in our community.”

 

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