WASHINGTON, DC – January, 9, 2015 — The Ripon Society hosted a breakfast discussion yesterday morning with U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (OR-2) and 16 new Members of the House of Representatives. The discussion was moderated by Walden, who talked about his role as Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and introduced each of the new Members, who then delivered brief remarks of their own.

The new Members participating in the discussion included: Rep. Bob Dold (IL-10); Rep. Dave Brat (VA-7); Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36); Rep. Mike Bishop (MI-8); Rep. Barbara Comstock (VA-10); Rep. Garret Graves (LA-6); Rep. French Hill (AR-2); Rep. Will Hurd (TX-23); Rep. Martha McSally (AZ-2); Rep. John Moolenaar (MI-4); Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-4); Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21); Rep. Mimi Walters (CA-45); Rep. David Young (IA-3); Rep. Lee Zeldin (NY-1); and, Delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen (American Samoa).

“We appreciate Chairman Walden and these 16 new Members for being with us yesterday morning,” stated Jim Conzelman, the President & CEO of The Ripon Society. “It’s an extremely busy time of year, with people setting up their offices and Congress getting back to work. It’s also a hopeful time of year. As someone who has been in Washington since the early 1970s, I can’t think of a time, at least in recent years, when Republicans are more optimistic about the prospects that lie ahead. Having control of the House and Senate matters – there’s no doubt about that. But it’s also a responsibility.

“And after listening to Chairman Walden yesterday morning and hearing what these 16 new Members of Congress had to say, I have no doubt that they are up to the challenge, ready to get to work, and committed to addressing the many problems we continue to face as a nation and as a world.”

“After listening to Chairman Walden yesterday morning and hearing what these 16 new Members of Congress had to say, I have no doubt that they are up to the challenge, ready to get to work, and committed to addressing the many problems we continue to face as a nation and as a world.”

According to Conzelman, yesterday’s breakfast discussion was attended by over 120 people. The discussion was held as part of The Ripon Society’s 2015 Policy & Politics Series, and was the first event of the new year. Last year, Conzelman noted, The Ripon Society held over 25 events as part of the Policy & Politics Series, featuring such leaders as Speaker of the House John Boehner, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senator John McCain, and Senator Rob Portman. Conzelman further noted that the next two events this year in the series will be a breakfast discussion with Senator Rand Paul on January 21st and a lunch discussion with House Majority Whip Steve Scalise on January 27th.

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.

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