Yahoo! Voices on February 8, 2013
by Matt Lawrence

The state of our union, in my opinion, is strong. The phrase, a bit cliché, rings true to me as we continue to move forward as a nation. For me, 2013 is looking to be a year in which we continue advancements in major domestic policy issues like gay marriage, jobs, and gun control. We cannot settle on the changes made in the last year. Our country faced catastrophic events, with the shooting in Newtown ringing home to most, which tested the strength of America. Congress is working on advances to policy that will make our nation safer and more progressive.

In 2012, I traveled on a national bus tour with the nonprofit Young Invincibles. We hit the road to learn about issues facing young Americans all across the country. We heard their feelings of frustration, uneasiness, and fear about their future. Today we are seeing slight decreases in unemployment and more talk on ways we can improve the economy for their future.

While we saw small steps to move forward in 2012, I remain optimistic that 2013 will be a year of increased progress, compromise and action that will benefit all Americans.