As the heart of government in the world’s only superpower, Washington, DC, has to be at the center of our collective efforts to address the challenges we face nationally in making innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship more inclusive, designing smarter economic strategies that make us more competitive, understanding when national security risks matter and when they should not, finding new ways to bring coalitions and alliances together to confront the hard truths of access to health, meeting sustainability goals, and more.

The city has a pivotal role to play in finding solutions to problems, both old and new. America’s rules-based, multilateral framework laid the foundation for generations of peace and prosperity at home and abroad. It is not too late for leaders from across the innovation ecosystem to apply their minds and talents and boldly reimagine what they can do together. That city on a hill can be a shining example to the world once more.

Thank you to those who met with me to share their ideas, to help me better understand the important work they do, or simply pause to say hello.

Collage 1: Koren W. Wong-Ervin (Jones Day), Derrick Brent, Anne Kozak, and Anastasia Johnson (USPTO), Patrick J. Coyne (Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, Brad Watts (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) James Edwards, Mark Holman (Ridge Policy Group), Angela Wooden and Sayem Osman (Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP).

Collage 2: Professor Jay Thomas, Dean William Treanor, Professor Jim Fienerman (Georgetown University Law Center); Judge Paul Michel (ret.), Peter-Anthony Pappas, Kaylan Privette, Geoff MacLeigh, Cirilo Perez (Office of Sen. Thom Tillis), Register Shira Perlmutter, Associate Registers Miriam Lord and Maria Strong (U.S. Copyright Office), Michelle Yang and Alexis T. (Office of the U.S. Trade Representative), Judge Jackie Wright Bonilla (USPTO PTAB).