To the Editor:
The not-for-profit Bipartisan Policy Center was founded in 2007 by former Senators Howard Baker (Republican), Tom Daschle (Democrat), Bob Dole (Republican) and George Mitchell (Democrat). Along with the nonprofit No Labels, founded in 2010 to bring America’s leaders together to solve big problems, they identify a host of across-the-aisle endeavors to prove bipartisanship can and has worked.
They include creation of Social Security (1935), National Interstate and Defense Highways Act (1956), 1964’s Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act of 1965, Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP, 1997), Balanced Budget Act (1997) and 2015-Every Student Succeeds Act.
Americans who favor bipartisanship ought to pay attention to the Problem Solvers Caucus, created in 2017 by No Labels. The caucus is now an independent U.S. House assembly driven by over 60 members — equally divided between Democrats and Republicans — who foster impartial, unprejudiced and non-partisan cooperation on key policy issues. The Senate does not have a caucus format but many senators are allies to the Problem Solvers Caucus.
The Problem Solvers Caucus has played a significant role in making bipartisan deals such as the COVID-19 relief bill, ongoing health coverage for veterans exposed to military burn pits, $973 billion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021), gun safety bill (2022), CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and the Election Count Reform Act (2022).
On April 19, the Problem Solvers Caucus announced “its endorsement of a bipartisan debt ceiling framework comprised of steps to avoid defaulting on the national debt and advancing a sustainable budget.” The members also address the immigration and border security issue, which has plagued Americans since 2014. With a divided Senate and House, we know bipartisanship is required for these two important issues to be resolved. The Problem Solvers Caucus is coming to Americans’ rescue.
Steve Corbin
Cedar Falls, Iowa
