The Aspen Institute Congressional Program:
A Nonpartisan Success Story

This is an analysis of a bipartisan congressional project first funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York. The Aspen Institute Congressional Program, which is dedicated to educating lawmakers, now has numerous supporters; yet with a leadership change ahead, it faces an uncertain future.

Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle acknowledge that Washington has become more partisan than ever. Acrimony and bitter rhetoric often mark public discussion of major issues. Depending on which side is in power, Democrats and Republicans alike complain that the other side denies them the opportunity for true congressional debate.
Meanwhile, as Iraq and the upcoming presidential election regularly grab headlines, critical long-term issues such as relations with Russia and the education of the nation’s children can often be relegated to the legislative back burner. It is against this challenging backdrop that the Aspen Institute Congressional Program operates. Founded in 1950, the Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., which is dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue.

The Aspen Institute Congressional Program, established in 1983 by former U.S. Senator Dick Clark, is a nongovernmental, nonpartisan educational program for members of the United States Congress. It provides lawmakers with a stronger grasp of critical public policy issues by convening high-level conferences in which legislators — from both parties and both houses — are brought together with internationally recognized academics, experts and leaders. The agenda is devoted to explaining ideas and exploring various policy alternatives. Political neutrality is essential to the educational mission of the program. There is no identification with a political or party viewpoint and no endorsement of specific legislation. The Aspen Institute organizes six retreat programs annually: Political Islam; U.S.-Russia-Europe: Cooperative Efforts; U.S. Policy in Latin America; U.S.-China Relations; and The Challenge of Education Reform.

Written by: Lee Michael Katz. Katz is a D.C.-based writer who has decades of experience covering domestic and foreign policy issues in Washington and all over the world.