U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) led a panel discussion with 16 new members of the House of Representatives during a breakfast forum hosted by The Ripon Society on Thursday.
Walden moderated the discussion and spoke about his contributions as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
The forum, the first of the Ripon Society’s 2015 Policy and Politics Series, was attended by more than 120 people.
Walden introduced each of the new House members, including: Rep. Bob Dold (R-IL); Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA); Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas); Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI); Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA); Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA); Rep. French Hill (R-AR); Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas); Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ); Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI); Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA); Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY); Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA); Rep. David Young (R-IA); Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY); and Delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa).
As they were introduced, each member took the opportunity to address the crowd with a brief statement.
“We appreciate Chairman Walden and these 16 new members for being with us,” Jim Conzelman, president and CEO of The Ripon Society, said. “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.”
Upcoming events in Ripon’s series include a breakfast discussion with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Wednesday and a lunch discussion with House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) on Jan. 27.