Abbreviation APP Founder Robert George Chairman of the Board Sean Fieler | Formation 2009 Legal status Non-profit | |
Headquarters 1130 Connecticut Ave. NW, S-425
Washington, DC 20036 | ||
The American Principles Project (APP) is a 501(c)(3) think tank founded in 2009 by Robert George and Jeff Bell. APP promotes a combination of libertarian and social conservative policies. It is chaired by Sean Fieler.
Contents
While opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage, APP largely focuses on promoting immigration reform, opposing the Common Core curriculum, and defending religious liberty. They have also advocated for monetary reform by suggesting a return to the gold standard.
Following the Republican Party's post-2012 election review, in which the GOP suggested de-emphasizing social issues, a conservative advocacy group affiliated with the American Principles Project published a report detailing the importance of social issues to the Republican Party. The report pointed out that Republicans ran almost exclusively on economic issues during the 2012 election to lackluster effect. CNN has described the American Principles Project as "a unique Republican group that bridges the ideas of social conservatives and libertarians."
Education and Common Core
The American Principles Project describes its education initiative as an effort to “promote policies and actions that protect children and secure their future.” It has been critical of the Common Core education initiative, and some of the APP's most well-known work has been produced in the fight against Common Core.
In 2012, Jane Robbins, Senior Fellow at the American Principles Project, and Emmett McGroarty, Executive Director of APP Education, co-authored a report for the APP and the Pioneer Institute called Controlling Education From The Top: Why Common Core Is Bad For America. This report has influenced the national Common Core discussion. Both McGroarty and Robbins have published numerous articles discussing what they perceive as flaws in Common Core, both in its contents and in the way it was enacted. APP has also sent experts to testify to state legislatures, encouraging states to withdraw from the Common Core standards. APP has argued that the Republican Party will suffer in the 2016 presidential election if it fields a pro-Common Core candidate.
The American Principles Project launched an effort to expose what it calls a “radical new Advanced Placement U.S. History framework,” charging that the new AP U.S. History framework teaches a “biased, leftist” version of the traditionally objective curriculum.
Immigration reform
The American Principles Project supports immigration reform and actively advocates to conservative Republicans for pro-immigration policies.
Former George W. Bush Chief of U.S. Citizenship Alfonso Aguilar is the Executive Director of American Principles Project's Latino Partnership and has been quoted in numerous publications and appeared on several television news programs supporting immigration reform. The Washington Post called Aguilar a "driving force" and a "pivotal presence" in the debate on immigration. Aguilar has warned that a restrictionist immigration policy could hurt the Republican Party's chances of winning the presidency in 2016.
In a policy brief released in July 2014, APP sought to clear up "misconceptions" about unaccompanied minors crossing the border into the United States illegally. The brief called for compassion for these children, arguing that "we have always been a generous nation that has attracted people from all over the world seeking freedom and relief from persecution and violence... But that is part of what makes us exceptional."
In the same brief, APP affirmed support for a "market-based guest worker program," calling current guest worker programs "too small" and "over-regulated."
Economics and monetary policy
The American Principles Project has been critical of Federal Reserve System monetary policy and has advocated a return to the Gold Standard.
In November 2014, Steve Lonegan, Director of Monetary Policy at the American Principles Project, sent a public letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen requesting a meeting to discuss how current monetary policy is "reducing" the standard of living for "average working Americans."