Washington, D.C.— U.S. Congressman Steve King (IA-05) today invited high school students to apply to the first-ever Congressional Youth Advisory Board for the Fifth Congressional District.

The Congressional Youth Advisory Board is open to high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors enrolled in public, private and home schools.

King is assembling the Congressional Advisory Board to accomplish two major goals.  The first is to give King a deep insight on the issues that directly affect Iowa’s youth. He plans to use the creative sessions with the Board to form strategies to prevent what has been dubbed the “brain drain,” Iowa losing young people to other states. The group will discuss the factors used when youth decide to leave Iowa for college and career, at a time when they and their peers are making those crucial decisions. King hopes the group will produce ideas that will help reverse the trend that has Iowa losing population for decades.

“Western Iowa has terrific young minds and outstanding communities,” said King. “It is a grave concern of mine that we are losing these great minds to other states. The best way we can start to correct that trend is to work with our young people as they make those decisions.”

Second, the group will focus on educating young people first-hand about government and policy and the role citizens play in communities, states and the country.

“I hope this group of students will have the invaluable experience of having their voice heard and watch their ideas come to fruition to better their communities,” said King.

Members will be selected based on leadership skills, academic performance and public service. The Board will meet two to three times per school year.  Students interested in applying to the Congressional Youth Advisory Board may contact King’s Washington office at 202-225-4426 or download an application.