Booker, Kennedy Launch Bipartisan Senate Creators Caucus

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Kennedy (R-LA) launched the Senate Creators Caucus, a first-of-its-kind, bipartisan effort to recognize and engage creators shaping public conversation for millions of Americans. The new caucus highlights the growing creator economy and the role that creators play in elevating cultural, social, and political issues. To mark the launch, Booker and Kennedy hosted a panel and reception featuring 15 leading creators whose work spans tech, politics, beauty, mental health, sports, and lifestyle content—collectively reaching tens of millions of viewers across the country. “Content creators are more than our favorite teachers, cooks, music critics, and voices online. They are also entrepreneurs who create jobs, drive economic growth, and invest in their communities. Creators represent a growing sector of the economy, but Congress and our laws haven’t kept up. The bipartisan Senate Creators Caucus seeks to change that by educating lawmakers, advocating for policies that have creators in mind, and ensuring that creators are recognized as legitimate small businesses, ” said Senator Booker. “America’s content creators are entrepreneurs. They’re turning good ideas into careers, building businesses and reaching millions of people in ways that weren’t possible a generation ago. Creators and social media have tremendous influence over how Americans communicate and get information, and that influence comes with a responsibility to be honest and tell the truth. Senator Booker and I started this caucus to hear directly from creators, better understand this growing part of our economy and make sure they have a voice in Congress,” said Senator Kennedy. "YouTube creators are online storytellers, entrepreneurs, and employers in every state across the country. We're grateful to Senators Booker and Kennedy for launching the Senate Creators Caucus to ensure America’s digital creators have a strong voice in Washington,” said Leslie Miller, VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy, YouTube. The panel was moderated by Washington Post reporter and inaugural Creator Host Dylan Wells. Panelists included Avery Smith of Louisiana Crawfish Company ; Ian Schwartzman, CEO and co-host of the J oe Budden Network ; Jackie Aina, a beauty and lifestyle creator; Sage Steele, former SportsCenter co-anchor and host of The Sage Steele Show; Matthew Patrick, creator advocate and co-founder of Theorist Media ; and Mark Vins, Emmy Award-winning wildlife filmmaker and co-founder of Brave Wilderness. The launch was also attended by creators from across various industries, including Javoris Hollingsworth of Gracie’s Corner ; mental health creators Dr. Tracey Marks and Kati Morton; Ericka “Boze” Bozeman of BOZEvstheWORLD ; lifestyle creator Destiny Adams; psychiatrist and creator Dr. Judith Joseph; tech creator Jacklyn Dallas of The Next Big Thing; and digital culture creator Shira Lazar of What’s Trending.