Issue No. 2, Spring 2019

Enterprise Report Restoring Liberty, Opportunity, and Enterprise in America

Telling AEI’s Story By AEI President Arthur Brooks

The arrival of summer brings with it many familiar Washington traditions—from the AEI Annual Picnic to the serious business of escaping DC’s humidity—but the seasonal change is different for me this year. As many of you know, I will be leaving the nation’s capital at the end of June to take up a professorship at Harvard University. As I reflect on my past decade serving as president of AEI, I can only express gratitude for the privilege it has been to work alongside such principled and dedicated colleagues and friends, all of whom have fought so tirelessly for the values we share. Of course, I’m not leaving the fight altogether. I will be an advocate for free enterprise for the rest of my career, and I plan to stay involved in AEI’s work in some capacity. But no matter the path of my own future, I could not be more confident in incoming President Robert Doar’s preparedness to safeguard AEI’s values, champion our scholars’ research, and strengthen the Institute’s position in the public square. “I am so proud and grateful to have been a part of AEI’s story for the past decade and to know that this story will continue being told because of the people who live it out in their own communities. Thank you, as always, for your unwavering support and for your commitment to the principles that make AEI the resource and home it is for so many.”

In recent months, I’ve traveled far and wide to share my new book, Love Your Enemies Arthur Brooks AEI President and (in a bookstore near you!), and AEI’s documentary on the power of free enterprise, Beth and Ravenel Curry The Pursuit (find it on iTunes!), speaking on how to bridge the divides that are destroying Scholar in Free Enterprise political discourse and, all too often, personal relationships. One theme I come back to again and again is the power of storytelling to break down barriers. Over the past 10 years, my job has been to tell AEI’s story—our mission and the work of our scholars—and I’d like to share a few reflections about how transformative that story has been. Political affairs in the years since I assumed the AEI presidency have been tumultuous, to say the least. When I stepped into my office for my first day at AEI on January 1, 2009, a punishing, worldwide recession was looming. Since then, we’ve faced a number of policy challenges and notable political events: the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the Troubled Asset Relief Program, and Dodd-Frank; Brexit; multiple Supreme Court confirmation battles; trade conflicts with China; three government shutdowns; and President Trump’s historic election. But while frequently changing narratives have been the hallmark of domestic and global issues, AEI’s story has been remarkably consistent. Grounded in moral commitments to equal dignity and opportunity for all people, the Institute’s scholars and staff have fostered essential policy conversations and pushed forward on innovative research projects. Amid the acrimony and uncertainty we see all around us, AEI remains a safe harbor for policymakers and community leaders alike seeking expertise free of political agendas. I am proud not only that AEI has kept its sights set on the ideas and issues that will shape policy for years to come but also that it has done so with conviction and moral purpose. A variety of metrics attest to the impact of AEI’s story on policy and public life. Our scholar ranks are deeper and broader than ever before, and hardly a day passes without a member of the AEI community offering insights in America’s most-read newspapers and on its most-watched television shows. We are sharing the values of free enterprise with thousands of young people through robust campus outreach and internship programs and equipping hundreds of local leaders with the tools they need to expand opportunity for the most vulnerable in their communities. And on Capitol Hill, AEI scholars remain the go-to resources for many of our nation’s policymakers, providing the intellectual and moral foundation for key policy reforms on everything from entitlements to defense budgeting to trade. I am so proud and grateful to have been a part of AEI’s story for the past decade and to know that this story will continue being told because of the people who live it out in their own communities. Thank you, as always, for your unwavering support and for your commitment to the principles that make AEI the resource and home it is for so many.

AEI Releases The Pursuit

On April 30, AEI released The Pursuit, a major documentary film that features Arthur Brooks traveling the world seeking an answer to the question: How can we lift up the world, starting with those at the margins of society? The Pursuit is a first-of-its-kind product for AEI, designed to inspire a mass audience with the themes of free enterprise and human flourishing that animate AEI’s work. The film has reached audiences across the country. AEI organized 84 film its premiere, including The Hugh Hewitt to host a screening for members of the screenings between January and April, 17 Show, Varney & Co., and a number of South Carolina State Senate. of which were citywide showings in the local outlets in cities such as Denver, In addition, The Pursuit was accepted premiere week, including screenings San Francisco, and Seattle. into the Dallas International Film Festival, in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, AEI worked with students in its the Cleveland International Film Festival, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. Academic Programs network to screen the Mountainfilm Festival, the Steamboat On the night of the New York City the film at Covenant College, American Institute Film Festival, and Film Fest premiere, Brooks joined Fox News’ University, the University of Texas, Tucson. Brooks attended the Dallas Martha MacCallum for a primetime Seattle Pacific University, the University and Mountainfilm festivals, conducting feature on her show, The Story with of Virginia, and Hillsdale College, among interviews on the red carpet with the Martha MacCallum. More than 200 others. In addition to college campuses, film’s director. people attended the DC premiere, AEI organized screenings at several The film was released on iTunes which featured both a screening and organizations, including the Atlas on May 7 and is available on Amazon Q&A session with Brooks and the film’s Network, the Sutherland Institute, and Video and Google Play. The Pursuit director. Brooks also appeared on several the Pelican Institute. AEI also worked will be available for streaming on Netflix media outlets to promote the film before with a local partner in South Carolina in August.

AEI Impact Spotlight The Marshall Project Criminal Justice Reform and “Ban the Box” On May 8, AEI hosted the Marshall Project for “What’s the Story?”—a monthly speaker AEI Resident Scholar Stan Veuger has neighborhoods by as much as 4 percent series that features prominent Americans been leading a body of research on and has made it easier for individuals as they explore how to create and “ban the box” legislation—a component with criminal records to find and disrupt narratives around criminal justice. of the Fair Chance Act under consider- retain employment. This installment of the series featured a ation in Congress—to gauge the impact In March, Veuger coauthored a letter conversation among Ken Frazier (CEO of of such legislation on opportunities for to House Committee on Oversight and Merck & Co.), Genevieve Martin (executive prisoners preparing to reenter society. Reform Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) director of Dave’s Killer Bread Foundation), “Ban the box” refers to the use of and Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Jeff Korzenik (chief investment strategist questions meant to identify a prospective citing the evidence from his working and senior vice president of Fifth Third job applicant’s criminal history. paper with Shoag. Rep. Jamie Raskin Bank). AEI Resident Fellow Brent Orrell Veuger’s research with Case Western (D-MD) read the letter out loud during provided opening remarks. The Marshall University’s Daniel Shoag indicates the committee markup, and multiple Project is a nonprofit online news organiza- that “ban the box” legislation has members debated it. tion focusing on issues related to criminal increased employment in high-crime justice, founded by former hedge fund manager Neil Barsky and former New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller. 3 AEI Academic Programs Hosts Capstone Seminar for Graduating Seniors

On April 4–6, AEI Academic Programs AEI’s Gary Schmitt and Rebecca Burgess “This conference is something I hosted a capstone seminar for on Aristotelian virtue, citizenship, and will remember as a highlight of 30 graduating college seniors. American democracy; a visit to Mount my senior year for a long time. I The seminar was designed to prepare Vernon; and a screening of the movie really appreciate all AEI has done for students for graduation and the begin- Groundhog Day, followed by a discussion me and my campus over the years, ning of their professional lives with of the film’s themes with Charles Murray. and this was a great way to cap off my discussions and panels on topics The final day of the seminar chapter with on-campus involvement.” including citizenship, vocational focused on professional development discernment, and professional character. and discernment. Sessions included a “I’m excited to bring the values The students, who had all served as practicum led by Haley Robison of the and virtues I’ve learned over the leaders in AEI’s Executive Council startup Kammok and breakout sessions years in college and through seminars program, also took part in a networking with professionals from organizations and conferences with AEI into reception with AEI alumni currently including Politico, the Department of my career.” working in policy, media, and business. Justice, the Ronald Reagan Institute, The event opened with a dinner and Sovereign’s Capital. The event “The trajectory of my life has discussion between former Reps. Earl closed with a talk from the University of changed because of AEI and its Pomeroy (D-ND) and Howard McKeon Virginia’s Matthew Crawford on how to student programming.” (R-CA), touching on their respective pursue personal formation in a time of experiences on Capitol Hill and how constant distractions. how to be an effective leader and live young people can best pursue public Participants rated the program a well-rounded life, clarity about service in a politically polarized time. The a 9.3 out of 10. They reported that career paths, and confidence about following day featured a seminar with they gained valuable insight about life after graduation.

 AEI Offers Policy Education for Young Academics

AEI Hosting opioid crisis, the rise of populism, and Top College Students the administrative state. This event is part of a larger effort by AEI Academic Programs to build relationships with Throughout June, AEI is hosting and develop resources for college and approximately 250 top college university faculty. students (selected from an appli- In addition to AEI scholars, the cant pool of more than 1,100) from event highlighted policy experts from across the country for our 10th annual the Brookings Institution, Heritage Summer Honors Program. Intensive Gary Schmitt Foundation, R Street Institute, and program seminars include “War In March, Academic Programs partnered Progressive Policy Institute for discussions and Decision Making” taught by with the Jack Miller Center to host a on wide-ranging policy issues. The Fred Kagan, “The Building Blocks three-day seminar for faculty, postdocs, event also featured AEI’s Gary Schmitt of Human Flourishing” with Charles and PhD students studying American and Ryan Streeter on how to translate Murray, “A Poverty and Welfare Policy politics, history, and political theory. an academic background into a career Agenda for the 21st Century” with Titled “Bridging Theory and Practice,” in policy and Yuval Levin (then affiliated Brent Orrell, and “The University: the conference sought to connect with the Ethics & Public Policy Center) Disinterested or Activist” with Baylor political theory with the practice of public and Peter Berkowitz (Hoover Institution) University’s Elizabeth Corey. policy on some of the most pressing on the role of intellectuals in the issues facing our country, including the public square. Visit www.aei.org/spotlight/ summer-honors-program-2019/ 4 for more about this year’s program. 

AEI 2019 AEI Hosts Seminar for Irving Kristol Award Young Poverty Researchers

In March, AEI hosted a cohort of future Ron Haskins (Brookings Institution) on the leaders in the poverty-alleviation sector success sequence. Robert Doar also led a for the first-ever Emerging Poverty Studies seminar on the lessons he learned running Scholars Program. Drawing a group of public assistance programs in New York. postdocs and young PhD students from Feedback from the seminar was across the country to AEI for two days positive, with participants reporting of policy discussions, the program that they appreciated the opportunity to allowed participants to engage with network with AEI scholars and fellow AEI scholars and their peers and gain a researchers and to be exposed to new We are pleased to announce that AEI deeper understanding of the relationship ways of thinking about poverty and will honor former Ambassador to the between research and policymaking. mobility. One participant commented, United Nations and Governor of South The agenda included presentations Carolina Nikki Haley with the Irving by Matt Weidinger and Diane Whitmore “I loved being exposed to a Kristol Award at the AEI Annual Dinner Schanzenbach (Brookings Institution and variety of topics, some I had never on October 29, 2019, at the National Northwestern University) on how to make thought about. That really enriched Building Museum in Washington, DC. academic research useful for policymak- me, especially as many speakers Please contact Max Towey at ers, Bruce Meyer (AEI and the University connected findings to policy or [email protected] for additional of Chicago) on how we measure poverty, implementation.” details about purchasing tickets or tables. Katharine Stevens and Ian Rowe (Public Prep) on the antipoverty effect of educa- Additionally, most participants reported For a list of past recipients, visit tion, Naomi Schaefer Riley and Richard that they made valuable connections with www.aei.org/irving-kristol-award. Gelles (University of Pennsylvania) on peers and are likely to stay involved with child welfare, and Brent Orrell and AEI in the future.

AEI Spotlight: Latin America

AEI Visiting Fellow Roger Noriega and namely, how to employ sanctions, law In May, Noriega hosted Colombian Vice Research Fellow Ryan Berg are leading enforcement cooperation, security President Marta Lucía Ramírez for a discus- the policy discussions on the current assistance, and development programs to sion that addressed the crisis in Venezuela challenges facing Latin America, from disrupt organized crime networks and and transnational organized crime. the crisis in Venezuela to corruption restore the rule of law. The previous Noriega and Berg have continued to in Brazil to the criminal networks and month, Berg published a piece in Foreign comment on the crisis in media interviews economic stagnation driving migration to Policy arguing that without stable institu- and in the popular press, with pieces in the United States. Over the past several tions and economic reforms, aid to Central Foreign Policy, the Los Angeles Times, months, Noriega has briefed the Senate American countries is unlikely to address the National Interest, Newsmax, New York Foreign Relations Committee, the offices the root causes of the migrant crisis. Post, RealClearWorld, and the Washington of Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott The day following his testimony, Examiner, many of which have been (R-FL), and National Security Council staff Noriega hosted Sen. Scott at AEI for a translated into Spanish in the hopes of on the causes of destabilization in Latin discussion on the future of US-Venezuela reaching audiences in the region. America and possible policy remedies. policy and how to work with regional To stay abreast of AEI’s latest on the In April, Noriega testified before the partners to adopt sanctions that target the rapidly changing situation in this region, House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Venezuelan regime. The event received visit www.aei.org/spotlight/ how to treat the root causes of illegal significant media attention and was latin-america-studies/. immigration to the United States— attended by a film crew from NBC News.

5 Q&A with Resident Fellow Rebecca Burgess

Rebecca Burgess is a resident fellow at surprises of your analysis, and why is AEI, focusing on veterans and their role this information important now? in civil society and politics and analyzing That the community care for veterans public policies intended to assist veterans debate has stretched back to at least and their families. She is also the program 1946, if not earlier! As medical director manager for AEI’s Program on American of the then–Veterans Administration, Citizenship, which has produced original Paul Hawley fought to let veterans access research on civic education, the health medical care right in their community, of America’s public institutions, and the rather than have to travel long distances principles of American democracy. and hours to a VA facility. Doctors across Before coming to AEI, Burgess was the the 50 states loved it because they director of programs for external affairs at were worried about nationalized or social- Hillsdale College, where she was also the ized medicine happening after President deputy editor of Imprimis. She has taught courses on American political theory and consti- Truman introduced a national health insur- tutional principles at Hillsdale College and the University of Dallas, where she also served ance plan. They argued the Michigan Plan as the director of residence life and student life. Burgess is currently a doctoral candidate at “may well be the answer to free enterprise the University of Dallas. in state medicine.” So it turns out that the debate about veterans’ health care consistently mirrors and reflects national What first sparked your interest in do. Annual surveys still show that employ- debates about health care in general. researching veterans’ issues? ers and educators presume that veterans I arrived at college in the wake of Tom are not experienced and educated can- Where is the current administration Hanks’ Saving Private Ryan, HBO’s didates, that they don’t pursue a college succeeding in improving the VA and Band of Brothers, and 9/11. With the degree or vocational training, or that veterans services, and where could heightened interest in the Greatest they don’t have successful post-military it be doing more? Generation, I started asking why so many careers. The timbre of legislation often In 2006, VA’s budget was $73.7 billion; Americans were quick to claim with pride echoes the Hollywood and media-driven VA’s proposed budget for 2020 is $220.2 WWII veterans among their relatives, but “broken veteran” narrative, and because billion. No other federal agency’s budget not Vietnam War veterans—especially most Americans no longer know the has grown by such a proportion. It might when some of my most brilliant professors 1 percent of the population who serve on be entirely warranted for VA, but because turned out to be Vietnam vets. I found active duty, there isn’t much of an impulse VA doesn’t measure outcomes (and the dichotomy disquieting and unjust. to investigate those presumptions. outputs only sometimes), we’re largely But it turns out, why the dichotomy in the dark about what’s actually working exists is complex, involving historical, What are some of the biggest well. For instance, VA’s disability schedule social, political, medical, and even challenges veterans face in is premised on a 1917 industrial economy artistic reasons. transitioning to civilian life? model, and we have some evidence it’s Procuring employment, accessing the working as a disincentive for veterans to What are some of the most common education or training associated with enter the workforce, which has multiple myths or misconceptions about veterans civilian occupations, and overcoming the deleterious downstream effects for them. today? Why do these myths persist? “broken veteran” narrative. Reworking that toward a veterans-as- The majority of Americans believe the assets model could be the most signifi- random homeless panhandler is a military You will soon release a report titled cant 21st-century win for veterans, govern- veteran. More than 90 percent of the “But Politics Too: Choice, Care, Veterans, ment, and taxpayers. At the same time, time they’re wrong about the veteran and the VA,” which takes a close look at the Trump administration’s efforts to ease part. They’re also wrong that all the history of the MISSION Act and more rapid hiring of quality personnel and veterans suffer from post-traumatic community care access for veterans. firing of bad administrators is an immensely stress disorder; between 5–20 percent What were some of the biggest needed step toward VA reform.

6 Q&A continued New Scholar Joins Foreign and The other focus of your work is civics Defense Policy Team education. What role does civics education play in military recruitment and readiness? Hal Brands recently joined AEI as a Along with our late AEI colleague resident scholar focusing on American Walter Berns, I believe that citizenship grand strategy and international order in “is a sense of belonging to a community the 21st century. He is the author or editor for which one bears some responsibility,” of several books, including American that it’s akin to patriotism, and that it Grand Strategy in the Age of Trump has to be cultivated. If our youth don’t (Brookings Institution Press, 2018); even know how unique self-government Making the Unipolar Moment: U.S. actually is or the substance of the Foreign Policy and the Rise of the American way of life, they aren’t going Post–Cold War Order (Cornell University at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced to see why it needs to be protected Press, 2016); and Power of the Past: International Studies. or what a military does and needs to History and Statecraft (Brookings Brands served as special assistant preserve it. So they don’t have an Institution Press, 2015). His newest book to the secretary of defense for strategic intellectual base that emphasizes public is The Lessons of Tragedy: Statecraft and planning from 2015 to 2016 and was service, and definitely not military service. World Order (Yale University Press, 2019), lead writer for the National Defense Civics education is the essential substrata. coauthored with Charles Edel. He Strategy Commission from 2017 to writes a weekly column for Bloomberg 2018. He holds a PhD in history from Opinion and is also the Henry A. Kissinger Yale University. There are dozens of veterans services Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs organizations that advocate for and serve veterans. What role does AEI have to play in improving outcomes Forthcoming Report Offers Needed Primer on the for veterans? Even though the VA is the second-largest MISSION Act, Veterans Affairs Care Programs federal agency and veterans benefits were the model for our current social welfare Rebecca Burgess will soon release a and other federal programs, incredibly report offering a history of Department few scholars and policy experts study of Veterans Affairs (VA) community care veterans’ policy with the seriousness it programs and health care reforms before deserves. AEI’s ethos is the “competition the 2018 MISSION Act. The report of ideas,” not as an end in itself, but to examines the implementation failures improve lives. With AEI’s commitment of previous iterations of the MISSION to realizing the dignity of each human and Choice Acts. being, we’re well situated to counter Burgess’ report finds that, while caring the “broken veteran” narrative with for the well-being of veterans has been a Accompanying the report is an interac- evidence-based research proving that genuine concern of the American public tive map on AEI’s website showing the veterans are, and can be, immense social and lawmakers, recognizing how the location of VA medical facilities, along with assets that ought to be invested in. nation ought to deliver that care has simul- the concentration of veteran populations taneously been a persistent challenge. and the VA’s released access standards. This report is filling a crucial need It offers a visualization of the geographic For more of Rebecca Burgess’ work for policymakers tasked with improving differences of veteran population and on veterans and AEI scholars, visit outcomes for veterans but caught in VA medical facilities locations. The map www.aei.org/scholar/ the debate about whether allowing has been viewed more than 7,000 times. rebecca-burgess/. veterans access to care outside the VA To view the map, visit www.aei.org/ is a backdoor route to “privatizing,” multimedia/va-mission-act- if not abolishing, the VA. access-map.

7 AEI Hosts Leadership New Visiting Fellows Join AEI Ranks Network Summit

oncology, inflammation and immunology, and primary care. Previously, Axelsen led Pfizer’s Global Policy team, working with three Pfizer CEOs in relation to the Affordable Care Act and Medicare Part D in the United States, Health Technology Assessment in the European Union, and Quality Consistency Evaluation in China. In April, AEI welcomed 80 leaders from Jim Harper joined AEI in May as a across the United States, Canada, and the visiting fellow focusing on technology United Kingdom for our 10th Leadership Kristen Axelsen recently joined AEI and privacy issues and select legal and Network Summit. The agenda included as a visiting fellow focusing on pharma- constitutional law issues. Harper served Arthur Brooks on bridging the divisions ceutical drug policy after leading Pfizer as counsel for several US House and in American life; Tim Carney on his book Inc.’s Strategy and Business Evaluation for Senate Committees, and he was a Alienated America: Why Some Places almost 20 years. Most recently, Axelsen founding member of the Department Thrive While Others Collapse (Harper, oversaw and led a global commercial of Homeland Security’s Data Privacy and 2019); Robert Doar on creating a safety reorganization, the division’s digital Integrity Advisory Committee. More net that works; Frederick Hess on educa- strategy, the emerging markets strategy, recently, he was the executive vice tion and opportunity; and Charles and a more patient-centric business president at the Competitive Enterprise Murray on the social trends driving approach. She also oversaw business Institute and a senior fellow at the American disunity. In addition to policy development evaluations in rare disease, Cato Institute. education, the programming featured an elevator pitch competition, communi- cations training, and ample networking Scott Gottlieb Returns to AEI opportunities. The Leadership Network was founded After Serving as FDA Commissioner in 2014 to reach professionally and ideo- logically diverse state-based leaders with Scott Gottlieb recently returned to AEI AEI scholars’ work. After the spring 2019 as resident fellow and chair in health summit, the AEI Leadership Network now innovation after serving as the 23rd counts 731 leaders from 42 states, DC, commissioner of the Food and Drug Canada, and the United Kingdom. Administration (FDA) from May 2017 to April 2019. At AEI, he will continue his work on improving public health through entrepreneurship and medical innovation and on expanding regulatory approaches to maintain patient and physician autonomy. of generic drugs. He presided over a Gottlieb’s tenure as FDA commissioner record number of novel drug and was widely praised for opening pathways medical device approvals in 2017 and 1789 Massachusetts Avenue, NW for medical innovation, including the then broke that record in 2018. He also Washington, DC 20036 approval of the first gene-therapy-based helped advance the FDA’s Oncology 202.862.5800 | aei.org cancer treatment; advancing new policies Center for Excellence, which fosters a to address opioid addiction; and promot- collaborative scientific environment to ing competition and lower drug pricing improve the development and regulation through the approval of a record number of oncology products.

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