Declaration for a New American Dream

For our generation, the American Dream feels like a broken promise.

Housing and education costs have skyrocketed while wages have stagnated. AI threatens to automate millions of entry-level jobs. Meanwhile, our generation is far more depressed and lonely than our parents' and grandparents' generations.

These challenges have gone unsolved by our government because our generation has been a political afterthought. That changes today.

We are coming together as young people and allies across the ideological spectrum to put our pressing needs above partisan loyalty.

We demand action in three critical areas to reclaim the American Dream for our generation:

Opportunity

Despite America's status as the land of opportunity, many young people are struggling to find fulfilling and stable careers. We can build an AI-resilient workforce where young people have careers that are meaningful and enable them to thrive. We call on lawmakers to:

1. Create more entry-level job and training opportunities to give our generation an entry point into careers and prepare for mass automation.
   Example bills: National Apprenticeship Act of 2023, Tax Credits for Work-Based Learning (Ohio)
2. Make post-secondary education more cost effective and accessible by ending legacy admissions preferences, reducing barriers to enter skilled trades, and giving students AI-resilient skills.
   Example bills: Fair College Admissions for Students Act, Occupational Licensing Review Act (Model)

Affordability

From housing to basics, it is getting too expensive to live a fulfilling and dignified life. We can renew the promise of capitalism to create value for consumers, not extract it from us. We call on lawmakers to:

1. Make housing more affordable by reforming zoning laws and create incentives for more construction.
   Example bills: Model Bill for Zoning Reform
2. Stop manipulative corporate practices that raise prices, like hard-to-cancel subscriptions and AI-enabled price gouging.
   Example bills: Unsubscribe Act

Community

Our generation has been gutted by loneliness and a lack of strong communities. We call on policy makers to:

1. Give us control over our time online by turning off manipulative social media design features by default.
   Example bills: Vermont Age Appropriate Design Code, Social Media Control in IT Act (NC), Digital Choice Act (Utah)
2. Preserve our humanity in the age of AI by restricting AI from replacing meaningful human bonds for children, such as romantic partnership, parenting, and friendship.
   Example bills: Human-like AI Model Bill, GUARD Act