From Minnesota Campaign Report…

This election cycle has been a landmark year for a new generation of young voters. All over Minnesota, young people are volunteering for campaigns, donating at fundraisers, and taking more interest in politics than ever before. Often politicians do little more than pay lip service to young constituents, but recently, two members of the Minnesota delegation have gone a step further: they are willing to stand up for what the youth want.

Within the last two weeks Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Congressman Collin Peterson have signed onto the U.S. Public Service Academy bill.  The U.S. Public Service Academy is an initiative to create a four-year undergraduate institution focused on public service. Academy students would receive a free education in exchange for five years of government service after degree completion.  Graduates would serve at the local, state, or federal levels of government.

In a nationwide poll of young people (ages 18-29) 88% of young people said they would support the creation of the U.S. Public Service Academy; youth are dedicated to making this initiative a reality.  Young people in Minnesota are also getting involved: youth from Crookston to Minneapolis are pushing this initiative forward.

In total, the Academy bill has 113 co-sponsors in the House and 20 co-sponsors in the Senate. Representatives Peterson and McCollum join Minnesota Democratic Representatives Walz and Ellison, who have already sign onto the bill.  You can check www.uspublicserviceacademy.org to learn more about the Academy.