Rep. Reed Meets With Student Leadership Team

Rep. Reed Meets With Student Leadership Team
Posted on 10/03/2019

On Tuesday, Oct. 1, Rep. Tom Reed visited Dryden Middle/High School to take a tour of the capital improvement project renovations and speak with a group of high school students about the current political climate.

Reed took a brief tour of the district’s $38.8 million capital improvement project, visiting the new middle school cafeteria and kitchen space. He was joined by Emily Shipe, Dryden Business Manager and Kelly Daley, Dryden Board of Education member.

“It’s a very exciting day for all of us to have Congressman Reed here to see the great things we’ve been doing in Dryden,” said Shipe.

After the tour, the Dryden High School Student Leadership Team met with Reed and asked about his plans to combat climate change. Reed noted that as a Republican, he believes government mandates may not be the answer to this crisis.

“In order to deal with this issue, we have to unleash the innovation of technology that’s going to address climate change. What that means is - how are we going to produce the next generation of energy? What technology is out there that could potentially be a positive impact? We are very supportive in my office of tax policy and research incentives to encourage that type of innovation,” said Reed.

When speaking about his current top priorities, Reed emphasized the "most rewarding" work he does is with the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bi-partisan group in the United States House of Representatives made up of Democrats and Republicans working together to find solutions to key policy issues. 

“I spend a lot of time trying to break the culture of D.C. in regard to its gridlock. The Problem Solvers Caucus tries to be proud Republicans and proud Democrats, but at the end of the day, we’re still Americans. That’s what it’s going to take to deal with issues like national debt and climate change. If we only do it with half the country, that’s not going to work. We have to unite and come together to find common ground,” said Reed.

The Leadership Team also asked Reed about local business growth in Central New York and possible solutions to the student debt crisis.

Janelle Vuong, member of the Student Leadership Team, shared that speaking with Rep. Reed shifted her impression of what political conversations can look like.

 “I think this really helped add to my perception of politics. Considering the activism that’s been arising the past couple years, it can still be a welcoming environment and an open conversation,” said Vuong.

Felipe Bicalho, spokesman for the Student Leadership Team, added that this visit allowed him to see a more personal side of politicians.

“When you have someone who can show up here, talk to you, shake your hand and have an open and transparent conversation, it’s really important, especially to this generation growing up,” said Bicalho.

Rep. Tom Reed and Emily Shipe.
Dryden Business Manager Emily Shipe discusses Dryden's capital
improvement project renovations with Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY). 

Rep. Tom Reed answering Dryden students' questions.
Rep. Tom Reed answers the Dryden Student Leadership
Team's questions about the current political climate.