THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES
Rethinking America's Broken Immigration System
Extremes on both ends of the political spectrum have fueled a firestorm which has led to the spread of misinformation, stoked division, and slowed progress on finding a modern solution for immigration. We have strayed far from the path of understanding the economic and moral arguments and all recent attempts to fix the broken system have failed.
Watch the short documentary films featuring experts from National Immigration Forum, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Bipartisan Policy Center, the Mexico Center, New American Economy, CATO Institute, Americans for Prosperity, and many more as we explore how to solve immigration challenge and remake our economy while protecting American values, workers, and families.
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Watch the
Immigration Short Filmes
All episodes are now available.
What role does immigration play in our country’s identity and economy, and how did immigration become illegal in the first place?
We reveal the often unseen benefits and detractors of undocumented immigrants and the opportunity that a better system promises.
The physical barrier on the southern is a symbol of America's attitude about immigration, but what does it actually do to America safe?
After hurricane Harvey, Houston's 500,000 undocumented workers came out of the shadows to help rebuild the community.
The health of the American economy depends on its workforce. How do we protect American workers and provide opportunities to immigrants?
The H-1B visa, last updated in 1990, was designed for a different time. We explore the history of this visa and the challenges it faces going forward.
Dreamers have fought for legalization for decades, but the economic benefit these young people have brought, as well as the trust they placed in us as a country, is at stake.
How can we address the lives of millions of working, taxpaying residents who entered without inspection and ensure a better system in the future?
What does a path to legalizing the undocumented look like and how can we achieve a fair resolution for Americans and immigrants?
In order to build a better future for America, we must address the impacts of immigration policy on immigrant children and their families.
In the United States, it is law that all children receive an education regardless of immigration status, but not all students are getting the access they require.
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Experts of the Rational Middle
Find out which people are lending their voice to the Rational Middle.
A renowned thought leader, international speaker, policy maker, community liaison, trainer, and facilitator, Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali serves as the Executive Vice President for the National Wildlife Federation.
Shanika excels at leading analyses related to climate change, renewable energy, environmental and climate justice, sustainability, life cycle assessment, stakeholder engagement, and program evaluation.
James A. Baker, III, has served in senior government positions under three United States presidents. Baker is presently a senior partner in the law firm of Baker Botts.
Daniel is leading EPA efforts to protect public health and the environment for EPA Region including eight states and six federally-recognized tribes.
Virginia was as a Lead Author of the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third, Fourth and Fifth Assessment Reports and the IPCC Technical Paper on Water.
Julie's work focuses on energy infrastructures, environmental history, technological change, and the relationships between government, business, and the public.
Craig Cookson is the Senior Director, Plastics Sustainability for the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council, a trade association representing the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry.
Bridget leads external affairs including investor partnerships, industry partnerships, communications and special projects at Closed Loop Partners.
Aura Cuellar is currently the Vice President of Energy Transition for Shell in the United States, responsible for the implementation of Shell US’s energy transition strategy
Professor Scott Denning received his B.A. in Geological Sciences from the University of Maine in 1984, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University in 1993 and 1994.
Joy Ditto is the American Public Power Association’s president and CEO. She was previously the president and CEO of the Utilities Technology Council, a global trade association representing electric, gas, and water utilities.
Maury is the Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory and serves part-time as External Engagement Administrator for the Energy Institute.
Mr. Drummond has more than 25 years of business, and complex administrative law experience, with a focus in emerging technology, next generation digital architecture, and alternative energy issues.
Mark Finley is the fellow in energy and global oil at Rice University's Baker Institute. He has over 35 years of experience working at the intersections of energy, economics and public policy.
Mr. Fox-Penner is a Senior Fellow and Founding Director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy (now IGS), and formerly co-directed the Impact Measurement and Allocation Program (IMAP) of research in sustainable finance.
Dr. Julio Friedmann is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA. He currently serves as Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Isabella's main research focus was on energy systems modeling and decarbonization, with a background in the food-energy nexus.
Driven by the urgency of the climate challenge, Sarah Golden follows trends and innovations that are accelerating the clean energy transition. She brings more than a decade of experience in climate, clean energy and politics.
Paula R. Glover has served as President of the Alliance to Save Energy since January 2021 and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2017. A dynamic leader with more than 25 years of experience in the energy industry, Ms. Glover is the seventh president in the Alliance’s 45-year history.
Shannon Heyck-Williams serves as the National Wildlife Federation’s lead climate and energy policy advisor, directing and representing the organization’s strategic priorities at the federal level as they relate to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting renewable energy.
Dr. Holtz-Eakin built an international reputation as a scholar doing research in areas of applied economic policy, econometric methods, and entrepreneurship.
Lesley Jantarasami is the managing director of the Energy Program and brings over 10 years’ policy experience at the state and federal levels.
Na’Taki Osborne Jelks is a nationally-recognized leader in engaging urban communities and youth of color in environmental stewardship through hands-on watershed and land restoration initiatives, environmental education, and training.
Dr. Krishnamoorti has served as a department chair of the UH Cullen College of Engineering’s chemical and biomolecular engineering, associate dean of research for engineering, and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering.
Alan Krupnick is a senior fellow at Resources for the Future and an expert on the oil and gas sector, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from this and the industrial sectors, and cost-benefit analysis.
Holly Krutka is the Executive Director of the School of Energy Resources at the University of Wyoming.
Scott leads World Energy's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply business, empowering the world’s most dynamic leaders to successfully confront humanity’s greatest challenge by making net-zero real.
Sasha Mackler directs the Energy Program at the Bipartisan Policy Center. He has worked for more than two decades at the intersection of energy policy and commercial markets.
Dr. Arun Majumdar is the inaugural Dean of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. He is the Jay Precourt Provostial Chair Professor at Stanford University, a Senior Fellow and former Director of the Precourt Institute for Energy and Senior Fellow (courtesy) of the Hoover Institution.
Manuel Maqueda is an international teacher, speaker, and innovator committed to restoring the balance of living systems.
Dr. Medlock is the James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at the Baker Institute and the senior director of the Center for Energy Studies.
The modern architect of culture change in energy, Katie Mehnert is the Founder and CEO of Pink Petro™, the global community and career resource aimed at disrupting the gender gap in energy
Rachel A. Meidl, LP.D., CHMM, is the fellow in energy and environment at Rice University's Baker Institute. She was previously appointed deputy associate administrator for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, an agency of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.
Todd Moss, Ph.D., is a nonresident fellow for the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute. He is also the executive director of the Energy for Growth Hub in Washington, D.C., and a visiting fellow at the Center for Global Development.
Dr. Newell has published widely on the economics of markets and policies for energy and the environment, including issues surrounding global climate change, energy efficiency, and energy innovation.
Lauren Phipps is the Vice President and Senior Analyst on the circular economy at GreenBiz Group, where she leads the company’s circularity strategy, programs, and partnerships.
Dr. Emily Reichart serves as Chief Executive Officer of Greentown Labs, the largest climate tech startup incubator in North America.
During his four-year term, former Governor Bill Ritter established Colorado as a national and international leader in clean energy by building a New Energy Economy. After leaving the Governor’s Office, Ritter founded the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University.
Pat Sapinsley is the Managing Director of Cleantech Initiatives at the Urban Future Lab / ACRE at NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
Jon is vice president and senior analyst on the circular economy at GreenBiz Group, where he leads the company’s circularity strategy, programs and partnerships.
Through the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), Mr. Snitchler represents companies that own competitive power generation assets and advocates for policies that focus on well-functioning and properly regulated competitive electricity markets.
Bill Squadron has been an executive, government official and attorney in the energy, telecommunications, sports and media fields for more than 25 years, and is currently President of OurEnergyPolicy.
Lee Stockwell is an experienced petrophysical engineer and subsurface expert who currently leads Shell Energy's Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage program.
Ashima is the Climate Mitigation and Circular Economy Policy Advisor at Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) for the City of Seattle, driving the development of a strategy for advancing circular economy in the Seattle/King County region.
Suzanne Tegen is the Assistant Director at the Center for the New Energy Economy where she works for Colorado’s 41st governor, Bill Ritter, Jr., and helps host the Clean Energy Legislative Academy for state legislators.
With more than a decade of experience with plastics, recycling, and materials management, Emily brings her skills of stakeholder engagement, industry expertise, and passion for reducing climate change to the U.S. Plastics Pact
Dr. Webber’s expertise spans research and education at the convergence of engineering, policy, and commercialization on topics related to innovation, energy, and the environment.
Dr. Bryan Willson is Executive Director of the Energy Institute at Colorado State University, and the holds the Bryan Willson Presidential Chair of Energy Innovation.