HIGH SCHOOLERS LOBBY IN TRENTON FOR YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT BILL

The New Jersey High School Republicans and New Jersey High School Democrats teamed up for a bipartisan youth civic engagement bill.

Top Left to Bottom Right: Julien Catalon, Nehal Bajaj, Katie Mirne, Eli Solomon, William Atkins, Assemblyman Simonsen, Assemblyman Verrelli, Assemblywoman Swain, Assemblywoman Jaffer

TRENTON, DECEMBER 18th – Leaders from the New Jersey High School Republicans (NJHSR) and the New Jersey High School Democrats (NJHSD) testified in the NJ Assembly in support of the Involve our Youth Act. Katie Mirne, Chairwoman and Eli Solomon, Legislative Director represented NJHSR, and Julien Catalon, Chairman, and Nehal Bajaj, Legislative Director, represented their democratic counterparts.

The Involve Our Youth Act would permit public school students to have one excused absence to attend a civic event. The bill intends to improve youth civic participation and foster a new generation of dedicated voters. NJHSR and NJHSD have been in a two year long partnership in regards to this bipartisan bill, and interest in the bill was recently renewed in December of 2023. On December 18th, this bill was passed with a unanimous vote in the New Jersey Assembly State and Local Government Committee, and is set to go to the Assembly floor to receive a final vote.

NJHSR State Chairwoman Katie Mirne, a sophomore at Colts Neck High School, had this to say about the bill:

“I think it is very important for the youth to be actively involved in politics and their communities. We are the future of New Jersey and we are the ones who have to live in the world that we build. I think a lot of my peers are experiencing high levels of political apathy and it’s time to change that. By encouraging students to be more active members in their communities, we are in turn creating a more informed and involved generation of citizens. At the end of the day, whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, you should 100% fight for the future you want to see.”

NJHSD State Chairman Julien Catalon, a senior at Woodbridge High School had this to add:

“Schools play an active role in developing the skills necessary to be a global citizen, but can go further by emphasizing the social responsibility that is required for it. Students should not feel that they are pressured to choose between fulfilling this responsibility and being penalized by their school for missing class time.”

New Jersey High School Republicans is a state-wide, youth-based political organization with chapters in eight counties. On the local level, NJHSR members work with allied organizations and local Republican parties to advocate for conservative policies and elect Republicans on all levels.

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For more information about the organization, please visit www.njhsreps.org