Steps for Entrepreneurship

Statement

Steps for Entrepreneurship

Since being elected to Congress, I have had the opportunity to speak with students of all ages throughout the Third District - pre-school, grade school, high school, college and beyond. In particular, I have had many meaningful conversations with my Youth Advisory Council, made up of high school students in our district.

They have smart, sharp young minds and we need to do everything we can to encourage them to become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

This country was founded by entrepreneurs - by people willing to face the uncertainty and risks others found daunting.

We are the strongest nation on earth because this spirit of entrepreneurship has been a driving force through our history, leading us to discoveries which have added efficiency, comfort, and productivity to our lives.

Nebraska, now more than ever, needs entrepreneurs and innovators. When it comes to economic realities, rural communities face unique challenges.

Unfortunately many rural states have seen a ‘brain drain' in recent years. As the depletion occurs, we lose our most vital economic asset to more populated areas.

Earlier this month, I had the chance to work on the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, which seeks to address this by encouraging economic development partnerships. These partnerships would be formed between rural colleges and universities and rural employers. Additional career training to students attending rural schools in fields significant to the local economy would be provided. The Act also encourages rural businesses to employ students once they graduate.

Entrepreneurs are found in every setting. Rural America is no different.

Rural communities must be competitive in the modern economy, and the simple fact of the matter is this: in order to survive, new ideas - new ways of doing things - are necessary.

Prizes have a history of encouraging innovation by promoting competition, without relying on the government to foot the bill.

Recently, the House of Representatives passed a resolution congratulating the X PRIZE Foundation's leadership in inspiring a new generation of viable, efficient vehicles. Essentially, the Foundation will award a multimillion dollar purse to teams which design and build vehicles accessible to the average consumer which are able to achieve 100 miles-per-gallon.

When the 100 mile-per-gallon car is achieved, one would be able to drive across Nebraska on about 4 ½ gallons of gas.

This tremendous efficiency would dramatically reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil; it would stimulate our economy and improve our national security.

I am fortunate to serve on the House Agriculture's Subcommittee on Rural Development, and I am a member of the House Economic Competitiveness Caucus, both of which allow me to take an active role in encouraging entrepreneurs and innovators.

America faces a number of challenges which will require those willing to look over the horizon for solutions and who have the courage to work for their goals.

We live in a world where the limits to technology and innovation lie only in the realm of imagination. I look forward to seeing what the future will bring from these new pioneers.

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