The Capitol was recently abuzz with a special group of visitors. Daisy Troop 53162, a branch of Girl Scouts of the USA from Waynewood Elementary School in Alexandria, came equipped with high-fives for US Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat serving Virginia.
“The future of Virginia is bright in the hands of the next generation of smart, involved female leaders,” the senator wrote about the meeting on his Facebook page.
We spoke with Warner about the encounter during a recent media availability, asking the senator what he took away from the experience.
“I think it’s always important to meet with student groups, future leaders, because the point I try to make is almost whether they like it or not, what we do in this building affects their life,” Warner said.
The senator encouraged the students to get involved in the political process, no matter which political party they supported.
“The only appeal I do make is [to] hire people to Congress—the House or the Senate—that know how to get to ‘yes,’” Warner said. “The thing that frustrates me—and we saw it this week in the House again—you get these far-right and far-left extremes that can tell you what they’re against, but are never willing to make any kind of compromise to get to ‘yes.’”
He also empowered the group with the idea of positive change.
“The only thing that could actually slow our country is if we think the status quo is going to be okay—and if we’re always looking for the ‘perfect,’ rather than what we can do to move our country forward,” Warner said.
When possible, Warner meets with student groups as they visit the Washington, DC, area. The senator also hosts an annual Christmas tree decorating party at his office on Capitol Hill.
“I’m going to keep meeting with these young people as much as I can,” Warner said. “Every time I do, they give me a little bit of lift to come back to sometimes days that are otherwise a bit frustrating at times.”
