Freedom & Progress 2024: Full Schedule

This session will explore how free market principles can address today’s climate and energy challenges while driving economic growth. Experts will discuss innovative strategies to reduce carbon emissions, promote energy independence, and create opportunities for prosperity. Join us to explore how market-driven approaches can align economic incentives with environmental goals for a cleaner, more prosperous future.

Moderators

George P. Bush

Managing Partner (TX), Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

As Managing Partner of the Austin office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, I leverage my extensive experience and expertise in corporate law, public policy, and private equity to counsel clients on a range of complex matters that affect their growth prospects. With over 20 years of... Read More →

Speakers

Drew Bond

Co-founder, Chairman & CEO, C3 Solutions

Drew Bond is a mission-driven technology and public policy leader with experience at the highest levels of business, government, and nonprofits. Drew is a serial entrepreneur who has led startups from invention to commercialization in clean energy, data analytics, and online media. Drew... Read More →

Benji Backer

FREOPP

Benji Backer is the Executive Chairman and Founder of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC), the country's largest conservative youth environmental organization, and the author of The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future. His newest venture... Read More →

Rod Richardson

President, The Grace Richardson Fund, CoChair, Climate & Freedom International Coalition

Rod Richardson serves as President of the Grace Richardson Fund (GRF), and co-founder/co-chair of the Climate & Freedom International Coalition Meeting, co-facilitated in collaboration with Tholos Foundation. GRF’s mission is to pioneer collaborative innovation on new free market... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Location: Salons 1-3

Concurrent Block 4

9:00am EST

IRA Drug Pricing Implementation

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:45am EST

Location: Drawing Room

The drug pricing reforms mandated in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will have far-reaching effects on patients, health care providers, and the pharmaceutical industry. This panel will delve into the complexities of the IRA’s drug pricing provisions and explore how the new regulations will affect access, innovation, and costs. Health policy experts will analyze the potential benefits and challenges of the policy and what they mean for the future.

Moderators

Gregg Girvan

Resident Fellow, FREOPP

As a policy specialist with nearly 15 years experience in healthcare, long-term care, retirement, and veterans affairs, Gregg leads FREOPP’s health care policy initiatives. Combining knowledge of all levels of government with data analytics, Gregg’s focus is to bring patient-centered... Read More →

Speakers

Ge Bai

Professor, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Ge Bai, PhD, CPA is a Professor of Accounting at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Professor of Health Policy & Management (joint) at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. An expert on health care accounting, finance, and policy, Dr. Bai has testified before the House... Read More →

Richard Frank

Director-Center on Health Policy, Brookings Institution

Richard G. Frank, Ph. D., is a senior fellow in Economic Studies and director of the Center on Health Policy. He is the Margaret T. Morris Professor of Health Economics, Emeritus, in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. From 2014 to 2016 he served as Assistant... Read More →

Jacob Brody

Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroCard

Jacob Brody is an experienced investor, entrepreneur, and executive focused on opportunities in the future of healthcare and sustainability. He is currently investing part-time as a Venture Partner at Chaotic Capital and Expanding Capital (growth stage). He previously Co-Founded Accomplish... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Location: Drawing Room

Concurrent Block 4

9:00am EST

Neglected Drivers of the Rising Cost of Living

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:45am EST

Location: Salons 4-5

While inflation regularly grabs headlines, many other factors are also driving the cost of living ever higher for American families. This panel will examine often-overlooked contributors to rising costs, including housing regulations, health care expenses, energy policies, and labor market dynamics. Scholars specializing in these areas will discuss how they affect everyday expenses and propose solutions that could ease the burden on American households.

Moderators

Michael Toth

Founding Partner, PNT Law Firm

Michael is a seasoned tech General Counsel with over 15 years of corporate counsel and litigation experience. He is skilled at leading legal and policy teams to executive on high-impact initiatives that deliver tech solutions in dynamic markets. Michael's work has been featured in... Read More →

Speakers

Katie Zolnikov

Representative, Montana House

Katie Zolnikov is an American politician serving as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 45th district.

Avik Roy

President, FREOPP

Jackson Mejia

Visiting Fellow in Economics, FREOPP

Jackson is a PhD candidate in economics at MIT and a Visiting Fellow at FREOPP. He focuses on macroeconomics and business tax policy.

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Location: Salons 4-5

Concurrent Block 4

10:00am EST

Fixing the Broken Incentives in the U.S. Welfare System

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST

Location: Salons 4-5

Instead of offering a hand up, the U.S. welfare system often traps low-income Americans in cycles of dependency through broken incentives and steep benefit cliffs, which penalize those who try to work their way out of the system. This panel will explore innovative ways to reduce benefit cliffs and create pathways to financial independence, empowering more Americans to transition off assistance and build sustainable, self-sufficient futures.

Moderators

Jonathan Blanks

Managing Editor & Senior Fellow, Criminal Justice, FREOPP

Speakers

Buzz Brockway

VP of Public Policy, Georgia Center for Opportunity

Buzz serves at GCO’s Vice President of Public Policy. For the past eight years, Buzz Brockway has served in the Georgia House of Representatives serving on committees such as Appropriations, Education, Insurance, and Governmental Affairs. During his time in the Legislature he worked... Read More →

Austin Harris

State Representative, State of Iowa

Austin Harris is an American politician from the state of Iowa. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected to represent the 26th district in the Iowa House of Representatives in the 2022 election.

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 →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Location: Salons 4-5

Concurrent Block 5

10:00am EST

Progress in Education Reform

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST

Location: Salons 1-3

This session explores the ongoing K-12 education reform, highlighting the Education Savings Account (ESA) revolution and how market forces are reshaping supply and demand. Experts will discuss the private sector’s role in education, particularly as a human capital investment, and how innovative reforms are creating new opportunities for students and educators. Join us to discuss the future of education and the critical role both policy and private sector involvement play in driving success.

Moderators

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.

Speakers

Ted Patterson

Vice President of Grassroots, American Action Fund

Ted Patterson serves as Vice President of Grassroots for American Action Fund, a special project of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL). Since 2018, the YAL Team has worked with liberty legislators to pass over 750 liberty bills into law across America. Today, YAL’s national liberty... Read More →

Candice Pierucci

Representative, Utah House

Candice currently serves as the Chair of Education and is also on the following committees: Transportation, Government Operations, and Public Education Appropriations.She has worked as Director of Community Relations for Congressman Chris Stewart, and most recently has been the development... Read More →

Arushi Mathavan

Investor, Learn Capital

Arushi is an investor with Learn Capital and a graduate of the McCombs School of Business. She is passionate about social entrepreneurship, education reform, and exploring how companies can solve our world's most pressing education and equity concerns.

Robert Enlow

President and CEO, EdChoice

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Location: Salons 1-3

Concurrent Block 5

10:00am EST

Why do health care prices keep going up?

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST

Location: Drawing Room

Rising health care costs continue to burden American families, with provider and hospital pricing playing a significant role. This panel will dive into the factors driving these price increases, including market consolidation, opaque pricing practices, and the lack of competition. Experts will discuss the impact of these trends on patients and explore potential policy solutions to make health care more affordable and transparent.

Moderators

Jonathan Bush

Chairman of the Board of Directors, FREOPP

Speakers

Josh Archambault

Co-Founder and President, Senior Fellow, Reformers Academy, Cicero Institute

Josh is the co-founder and president of Reformers Academy, which recruits, trains, and deploys policy-interested professionals to positions of influence in the healthcare and education arenas. He also serves as a Senior Fellow on healthcare for the multi-state think tank Cicero I... Read More →

Caroline Pearson

Executive Director, Peterson Center on Healthcare

Nationally-recognized expert in public and private health insurance, prescription drugs, and aging issues. Two decades of consulting experience providing data-driven analysis and strategic advice to healthcare stakeholders. Now on a mission to reduce health care spending at the Peterson... Read More →

Gregg Girvan

Resident Fellow, FREOPP

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Location: Drawing Room

Concurrent Block 5

11:00am EST

The Politics of Freedom & Progress in 2028

Tuesday November 19, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST

Location: Gallery Ballroom

Moderators

Avik Roy

President, FREOPP

Speakers

Kent Lassman

President & CEO, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Kent Lassman has served as president and CEO at the Competitive Enterprise Institute since 2016, overseeing strategy and operations for the free-market organization. As president, Lassman brings to CEI more than 30 years of public policy, research, and executive management experience... Read More →

Ramesh Ponnuru

Editor, National Review

Ramesh Ponnuru is an American conservative thinker, political pundit, and journalist. He is the editor of National Review magazine, a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, and a contributing editor to the domestic policy journal National Affairs.

Lanhee Chen

David and Diane Steffy Fellow in American Public Policy Studies, Hoover Institution

Lanhee conducts research and provides commentary on contemporary American public policy issues, focusing on health care policy, economic policy, and US-China relations. He works closely with federal and state policymakers and regulators to provide policy counsel and recommendations... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Location: Gallery Ballroom

Ballroom Sessions