The U.S. debt crisis is deeper than you think, and the clock is ticking. When policymakers sideline fiscal responsibility to prioritize politics and deficit spending, it threatens our nation’s economy, freedom, and security. Will the American dream be secure for the next generation? 
 
On November 18, 2026, The Concord Coalition and the Former Members of Congress Association, in partnership with the Tommy G. Thompson Center, the La Follette School of Public Affairs, and the Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy will host a presentation on the federal fiscal crisis featuring:

Congressman Reid Ribble

Congressman Ron Kind

Jessica Riedl, Brookings Institution

Moderated by Carolyn Bourdeaux, former member of Congress and Executive Director of the Concord Coalition, the panel will explore what is driving our national debt crisis and how we got here. What options are available to policy makers, can Congress reach bipartisan solutions, and what happens to the country if we fail to act?