Freedom & Progress 2024: Full Schedule

When the dust from the 2024 presidential election settles, both major political parties will need to set their priorities for the next four years and beyond. This panel gathers experienced political commentators to discuss what these priorities are likely to be, and what they mean for individual liberty, economic opportunity, and the American people.

Speakers

George Will

Syndicated Columnist, Washington Post

George Will is an American journalist and pundit known for espousing political conservatism, particularly in his columns for The Washington Post and Newsweek.

Avik Roy

President, FREOPP

Monday November 18, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Location: Gallery Ballroom

Ballroom Sessions

11:00am EST

Applying the Principles of Federalism Across Policy Issues

Monday November 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm EST

Location: Drawing Room

Federal agencies have increasing influence over state and community self-governance. Much of it occurs behind the scenes, without the awareness or approval of our elected representatives. SPN’s Center for Practical Federalism has developed a Federalism Scorecard and other resources to identify where unelected federal officials exert undue influence over state governance and to identify practical policy solutions for states and communities to change this. This session will highlight what leaders are doing to strengthen self-governance in their states and communities.

Speakers

Tony Woodlief

Senior Executive Vice President, SPN

Tony Woodlief is State Policy Network’s Senior Executive Vice President and Senior Fellow for SPN’s Center for Practical Federalism. An alumnus of the University of North Carolina, he has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan, and an MFA from Wichita State... Read More →

Jonathan Wolfson

Chief Legal Officer & Policy Director, Cicero Institute

Jonathan oversees the policy team and legal strategy at Cicero, focusing his research on healthcare, regulatory reform, and workforce policies. Before joining Cicero, he led the policy office at the U.S. Department of Labor in the Trump Administration and served as a Policy Analyst... Read More →

Monday November 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm EST
Location: Drawing Room

Concurrent Block 1

11:00am EST

How the Debt Crisis Is Affecting Ordinary Americans

Monday November 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm EST

Location: Salons 4-5

As the U.S. national debt continues to soar, economists and policy experts alike are sounding the alarm about a looming fiscal crisis. This panel will examine the real-world impact of rising debt on everyday Americans, from inflation and interest rates to potential cuts in government services. We will discuss the long-term risks of a fiscal crisis and explore possible solutions to address the nation's unsustainable debt path.

Speakers

Jeffrey Holland

Vice President, Research, The Peter G. Peterson Foundation

Jeff came to the Peterson Foundation in August 2017 after 26 years at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). For the previous 18 years, Jeff was Chief of the Projections Unit at CBO, where he oversaw the production and data compilation of large parts of publications such as The Budget... Read More →

Romina Boccia

Economist, Cato Institute

Romina Boccia is a leading fiscal economist and director of budget and entitlement policy at the libertarian Cato Institute, where she specializes in federal spending, budget process, economic implications of rising debt, and Social Security reform. She writes the influential Substack... Read More →

Avik Roy

President, FREOPP

Monday November 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm EST
Location: Salons 4-5

Concurrent Block 1

11:00am EST

Who’s Winning the Debate on Free Trade and Industrial Policy?

Monday November 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm EST

Location: Salons 1-3

Political and public sentiment on trade, tariffs, and government intervention in industry are changing, with potentially dramatic consequences for America's economic future and the economic outlook of ordinary Americans. On this panel, experts will analyze the economic, geopolitical, and labor implications of the different approaches to trade; discuss which side of the debate is gaining ground; and determine what it means for U.S. competitiveness on the global stage.

Monday November 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm EST
Location: Salons 1-3

Concurrent Block 1

12:00pm EST

Frederick Douglass Awards Lunch & Fireside Chat with Alex Azar

Monday November 18, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST

Location: Gallery Ballroom

Speakers

Avik Roy

President, FREOPP

Monday November 18, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Location: Gallery Ballroom

Ballroom Sessions

1:00pm EST

The Coming Battle over the Expiring 2017 Tax Cuts

Monday November 18, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Location: Gallery Ballroom

As the 2017 tax cuts approach their expiration, a political showdown is brewing. This panel will explore the economic and political implications of renewing, revising, or letting these tax provisions expire. Experts will discuss the potential impact on American households, businesses, and the broader economy, as well as the key players and debates likely to shape the battle ahead.

Speakers

Ryan Ellis

President, Center for a Free Economy

Ryan Ellis is a longtime conservative policy activist and a recognized expert on tax and healthcare issues. Ellis is an IRS Enrolled Agent, and has run his own seasonal tax preparation business for over 20 years. He writes occasionally for National Review Online.

Daniel Mitchell

President, Center for Freedom and Prosperity

Dan Mitchell is President of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, a pro-market public policy organization he founded in 2000. His major research interests include tax reform, international tax competition, the economic burden of government spending, and other fiscal policy issues... Read More →

Daniel Bunn

President and CEO, Tax Foundation

Daniel Bunn is President and CEO of the Tax Foundation. Daniel has been with the organization since 2018 and, prior to becoming President, successfully built its Center for Global Tax Policy, expanding the Tax Foundation’s reach and impact around the world.Prior to joining the Tax... Read More →

Monday November 18, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Location: Gallery Ballroom

Ballroom Sessions

2:00pm EST

Reimagining our Approach to Homelessness

Monday November 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:45pm EST

Location: Drawing Room

In its 2024 decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, the U.S. Supreme Court gave local governments greater freedom to enact and enforce penalties on public camping and sleeping outside. This panel will explore the legal, ethical, and practical implications of the ruling and discuss innovative solutions to address homelessness that balance public order with compassion for the unhoused.

Speakers

Judge Glock

Senior Fellow & Director of Research, Manhattan Institute

Judge Glock is the director of research and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor at City Journal. He was formerly the senior director of policy and research at the Cicero Institute, a nonpartisan think tank based in Austin, and a visiting professor of economics at West Virginia University. He writes about the intersection of economics, finance, and housing, with a perspective informed by his work in economic history... Read More →

Michael Tanner

Senior Fellow, Social Mobility, FREOPP

After spending 29 years with the Cato Institute, Michael Tanner joined FREOPP in April 2023. Since then he has authored several studies for FREOPP on issues such as reparations, the definition of poverty, and homelessness. Tanner is also the author of The Inclusive Economy, which... Read More →

Roger Valdez

Research Fellow, Housing, FREOPP

Roger Valdez is Director of the Center for Housing Economics and a Research Fellow at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP). He is an advocate for progressive supply side solutions to housing scarcity. Lack of housing keeps cities expensive for poorer people and... Read More →

Jonathan Blanks

Managing Editor & Senior Fellow, Criminal Justice, FREOPP

Monday November 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:45pm EST
Location: Drawing Room

Concurrent Block 2

2:00pm EST

The Future of Work is Skills First

Monday November 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:45pm EST

Location: Salons 1-3

As the economy evolves, the traditional college degree is no longer the only path to a successful career. This panel will explore the growing importance of skill-based education and alternative career pathways that prioritize practical experience and vocational training. We will discuss how industries are shifting toward a 'skills first' approach and how these alternatives can open doors to fulfilling, well-paying careers that do not require a four-year degree.

Speakers

Akash Chougule

Vice President, Government Affairs, Americans for Prosperity

Akash Chougule is Vice President of Americans for Prosperity, the nation's largest free-market grassroots advocacy organization. Prior to his current role, Akash was Vice President of the Economic Opportunity Priority Initiative at the Stand Together Chamber of Commerce. Akash also... Read More →

Steve Taylor

Director and Senior Fellow, Stand Together Trust

Dr. Steven Taylor is the Director and Senior Fellow for the Future of Work at Stand Together Trust. He leads the investment and partnership strategy and builds issue-focused coalitions to educate policymakers on reforms that empower and motivate all individuals to leverage their skills... Read More →

Johnathan Hartley

Research Fellow, Financial Services, FREOPP

Jon Hartley is an economist, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and Host of the Capitalism and Freedom in the 21st Century Podcast at the Hoover Institution. Jon is a graduate of the University... Read More →

Laura Maristany

Founder & CEO, Prospera Insights LLC

Monday November 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:45pm EST
Location: Salons 1-3

Concurrent Block 2

2:00pm EST

Will AI Advance or Hinder Equal Opportunity?

Monday November 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:45pm EST

Location: Salons 4-5

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes industries, the new technology could level the playing field by creating new opportunities for underserved populations. It could also exacerbate existing inequalities through biased algorithms and automation. In this panel, we will explore the potential risks and benefits of AI as it becomes ever more integral in the workforce and education, as well as ways to ensure that it expands opportunity without leaving the most vulnerable behind.

Speakers

Neil Chilson

Head of AI Policy, Abundance Institute

Neil Chilson is a lawyer, computer scientist, and author of the book “Getting Out of Control: Emergent Leadership in a Complex World.” Neil is Head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute, where he works to create a policy and cultural environment where emerging technologies... Read More →

Wayne Brough

Program Director for Technology and Innovation, R Street Institute

Wayne Brough has a strong background in economics and public policy, focusing on regulatory policy in a number of fields, including technology, energy, insurance, and transportation. I also work on fiscal and tax policy questions, as well as legal reform. I have testified before Congress... Read More →

Dan Lips

Senior Fellow, Education (K-12), FREOPP

Dan Lips is senior fellow with the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity. He is head of policy at the Foundation for American Innovation. He previously was policy director with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Monday November 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:45pm EST
Location: Salons 4-5

Concurrent Block 2

3:00pm EST

Should the U.S. Government Build a Bitcoin Stockpile?

Monday November 18, 2024 3:00pm - 3:45pm EST

Location: Salons 1-3

As cryptocurrencies become increasingly mainstream, politicians like Donald Trump are calling for the U.S. government to build a strategic stockpile of Bitcoin. This panel will explore what such a move would mean for ordinary Americans, including potential risks and benefits for national security, financial stability, and U.S. leadership in the digital economy.

Speakers

Avik Roy

President, FREOPP

Monday November 18, 2024 3:00pm - 3:45pm EST
Location: Salons 1-3

Concurrent Block 3

3:00pm EST

Strengthening Legal Immigration

Monday November 18, 2024 3:00pm - 3:45pm EST

Location: Salons 4-5

Legal immigration enriches America’s cultural fabric and plays a vital role in sustaining a strong, dynamic economy, but our current system for managing it is broken. This panel will explore ways to fix some of its most pressing issues, including strengthening legal immigration pathways to address workforce shortages, drive economic growth, and enhance national competitiveness. Panelists will discuss the biggest challenges facing the current system and propose solutions to ensure that legal immigration continues to support a vibrant society.

Speakers

Laura Maristany

Founder & CEO, Prospera Insights LLC

Monday November 18, 2024 3:00pm - 3:45pm EST
Location: Salons 4-5

Concurrent Block 3

3:00pm EST

Using Technology to Improve Program Integrity & Benefit Delivery

Monday November 18, 2024 3:00pm - 3:45pm EST

Location: Drawing Room

Waste, fraud, and abuse are straining the welfare system, creating an urgent need for innovative solutions that ensure that benefits reach those who truly need them. This panel will explore new research on how digital identity can revolutionize welfare delivery by enhancing accountability and reducing inefficiencies. Experts will discuss how digital tools can verify eligibility, streamline access, and safeguard taxpayer resources while creating a more equitable and efficient system for recipients.

Speakers

Aparna Mathur

Visiting Fellow, Labor Economics, FREOPP

Aparna Mathur is a visiting scholar at FREOPP where she researches social safety net issues. She is a senior manager in economics at Amazon and a former Senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School.

Dan Lips

Senior Fellow, Education (K-12), FREOPP

Monday November 18, 2024 3:00pm - 3:45pm EST
Location: Drawing Room

Concurrent Block 3

4:00pm EST

Why Bureaucracies Fail—And How to Fix Them

Monday November 18, 2024 4:00pm - 4:45pm EST

Location: Gallery Ballroom

Why do large bureaucracies so often fall short of their goals? This panel will explore the common pitfalls that lead to inefficiency and stagnation in large organizations, from government agencies to private companies, and discuss the structural and cultural reforms needed to improve accountability, innovation, and performance. Scholars and experts from a variety of backgrounds will offer solutions to make bureaucracies more responsive and effective in serving the public.

Speakers

Jonathan Bush

Chairman of the Board of Directors, FREOPP

Monday November 18, 2024 4:00pm - 4:45pm EST
Location: Gallery Ballroom

Ballroom Sessions

5:00pm EST

Reception & Networking

Monday November 18, 2024 5:00pm - 7:00pm EST

Location: Foyer

Monday November 18, 2024 5:00pm - 7:00pm EST
Location: Foyer