Honored to Represent State & Nation At Trilateral Meetings on Critical Infrastructure
This past week I traveled to Germany in order to discuss infrastructure with fellow legislators from Canada and Germany.
Last week I was in Mainz, Germany, as part of the U.S. delegation at a trilateral meeting on critical infrastructure and financing. I was 1 out of 10 state legislators selected from the U.S. to be part of the delegation that met with legislators from Canada and Germany.
The series of meetings, organized by the Aspen Institute-Germany and supported by the U.S., Canadian, and German governments, along with the Marshall Fund, were to strengthen the “Transatlantic Partnership” and help state-level leaders compare and contrast ideas around cyber and physical security, energy generation and distribution, and ensuring strong healthcare systems.
The series of meetings are dubbed the “Laboratories of Democracy Initiative,” which was a phrase made famous by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis in New State Ice Co. v. Liebmann, 285 U.S. 262 (1932), in describing how “a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.”
The Initiative gathers ten lawmakers the U.S., Canada, and Germany for a series of meetings in which policy recommendations will stem. There are also opportunities for states to initiate relations with other states or governments to bolster trade relations or exchange ideas.
House Republican Leader Rose Pugliese (R-Colorado Springs), said this, “I’m very pleased to see that one of Colorado’s House Republicans, Rep. Soper, will represent our state and nation as part of the delegation from the U.S. to discuss infrastructure and financing in Germany.”
Being able to represent not only House District 54, but Colorado and U.S. as 1 of only 10 legislators chosen to participate in the series of trilateral meetings to come up with multilateral policy recommendations for addressing vulnerable, aging, and in some cases non-existent critical infrastructure is the honor of a lifetime.
I am very humbled by the respect and trust of my colleagues on both side of the aisle to advance me to this dual legislator-diplomat role. The next round of trilateral meetings will take place in Austin, Texas in June, 2024. I will keep everyone posted on any recommendations or ideas that stem from my involvement as one of the U.S. legislators in the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative.
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Wow Matt! What an honor for one of our local state representatives to be selected! It's nice to see that others see the value you bring to our state and country. Good job! Congratulations and thank you!