Reps. Beatty, Stivers Make First Stop on Civility Tour at Cristo Rey High School
Reps. Beatty, Stivers Make First Stop on Civility Tour at Cristo Rey High School
WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) and Congressman Steve Stivers (OH-15) made the first stop recently on their Civility Tour, speaking to students from Cristo Rey Columbus High School at the Columbus Metropolitan Library about the importance of civility and respect in everyday life.
The kickoff event follows Beatty and Stivers' announcement last month creating the Congressional Civility and Respect Caucus, which encourages all Members of Congress to act with civility and respect in their political discourse in their congressional districts and in Washington. To amplify and spread this message, Beatty and Stivers will be visiting high schools and civic organizations in Central Ohio to promote the use of a respectful dialogue on tough issues.
"Too many Americans are no longer expressing their disagreements in a respectful way," Beatty said. "That is why I am teaming up with Congressman Stivers to show that although we may not agree politically on many issues, we can disagree without being disagreeable." Beatty continued, "We want more people to do the same—especially the next generation of leaders—so Congressman Stivers and I are sharing our message with students all across Central Ohio."
"This Caucus is all about setting an example for the next generation, encouraging dialogue on tough issues, and showing that you can disagree without vilifying one another," Stivers said. "Speaking to students at Cristo Rey Columbus High School was a great first stop on our Civility Tour, and I look forward to continuing to spread our message of bipartisanship, civility, and respect throughout Ohio and the rest of the country."
Beatty and Stivers talked to the students about their bipartisan work, and why civility is important at school, work, home, and in the community. Following the joint presentation, Beatty and Stivers invited students to share ways they can be more civil and treat each other better.
Since the 113th Congress (2013-2014), Beatty and Stivers have served in neighboring districts in Central Ohio, working together to take on a multitude of issues, including homelessness, veterans' issues, and financial literacy. Both are members of the House Committee on Financial Services and serve as co-chairs of the Financial Literacy Caucus.
The Congressional Civility and Respect Caucus currently has 12 Members, and each member has made a commitment to find opportunities to lead similar bipartisan discussions on civility and respect in their own districts.
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