The United States recently surpassed a staggering $40 trillion in debt, and young people have the most at stake because they will inherit the consequences of today’s fiscal choices. As the academic year begins, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation has launched the expanded Up to Us Leadership Network — a talent leadership development pipeline for future fiscal leaders. The Network is building on a successful pilot year that supported more than 700 promising young leaders across the country.

The Up to Us Leadership Network identifies, develops, and empowers young leaders to understand the fiscal challenges facing their generation and advocate for change. Up to Us will build a community of changemakers positioned to influence public discourse, shape policy, and drive meaningful fiscal reform for the future.

“As America borrows trillion after trillion, we must recognize the significant financial burden being placed on the next generation,” said Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peterson Foundation. “Fiscal responsibility is not only an economic issue; it is also a moral issue. Young people across the country are deeply concerned about the burden that our debt leaves on their economic future, and the Up to Us Leadership Network empowers them to make their voices heard.”

The latest Peterson Foundation polling, jointly conducted by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and Republican firm North Star Opinion Research, reveals that young voters ages 18 to 29 years, are highly motivated about the debt and hopeful for change:

• 86% of young voters say a candidate having a plan to address the national debt is a deciding factor in their choice this November.
• Young voters are more willing than other age groups to consider voting for a candidate from a different political party than they would normally choose, if that candidate has a plan to address the debt (81% among 18-to-29-year-olds, compared to 73% overall across all age groups).
• Young voters are most confident that they can make a difference: 47% of 18-to-29-year-olds are optimistic that progress will be made on the debt, compared to 37% overall across all age groups. In addition, 41% expect the problem to get better in the next few years, compared to 27% overall across all age groups.

Launched in 2012 on 10 college campuses, Up to Us began with its Campus Competition. The Up to Us Leadership is now active on 135 college campuses and has grown to become the nation’s leading program for young people to build the skills, relationships, and network they need to be strong advocates for a better fiscal future. The Network now comprises four flagship programs to create a comprehensive pathway from campus advocacy to Capitol Hill careers:

1. Fiscal Advocacy Competition — Students compete nationwide to engage their peers and inspire action for a more sustainable fiscal future (formerly, the Campus Competition).
2. Fiscal Leadership Lab — Emerging leaders build civic leadership, policy, and organizing skills through an intensive 18-week program.
3. Fiscal Policy Challenge — Students design and defend detailed budget proposals before national policy leaders in Washington, D.C.
4. Professional Pathways — Program graduates connect with an exclusive alumni network of other emerging leaders and gain access to opportunities to shape the future of fiscal policy.

This year also marks the launch of Rising Leaders, a new initiative within the Up to Us Professional Pathways program dedicated to propelling 25 exceptional young people into careers with the power to shape the nation’s fiscal future.

“Growing up in rural Vermont and working in youth civic engagement has shown me how thoughtful policy decisions can strengthen communities and make government work better for the people it serves,” said Rachel Ledoux, a Rising Leader and political science and economics student at Simmons University. “The Up to Us Leadership Network has prepared me to pursue a policymaking career where I can help create equitable, evidence-based solutions to improve America’s fiscal future.”

Students interested in joining the Up to Us Leadership Network can learn more and apply at www.itsuptous.org.

About the Up to Us Leadership Network The Up to Us Leadership Network is dedicated to building a sustainable fiscal and economic future for America by mobilizing, educating, and empowering the next generation of leaders to drive change. Through a series of programs, the Up to Us Leadership Network provides emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills, and community to advocate successfully for national debt reform. To learn more, please visit www.itsuptous.org.