Views from Capitol Hill
Subscribe to From the Forum
A newsletter from the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program. Subscribe for highlights from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum.
Employee ownership continues to occupy a unique space in federal policy: broad bipartisan interest, growing visibility, and persistent structural hurdles.
While enthusiasm for shared ownership models remains strong across party lines, scaling these models requires more than agreement in principle. Financing pathways, regulatory clarity, technical assistance, and a supportive policy environment all influence the potential growth of employee ownership.
When congressional staff and experts gathered at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, they offered a candid look at how those forces are playing out on Capitol Hill. Nearly a year later, the questions they raised about access to capital, Department of Labor oversight, and legislative strategy remain central to the employee ownership agenda.
This issue of “From the Forum” revisits that conversation and shares insights that remain relevant for businesses, advocates, and policymakers working to expand employee ownership. The Forum — co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University — brought together leaders and practitioners to explore how ownership can reshape work and workplaces.
The Employee Ownership Agenda: Views from Capitol Hill
In this session, congressional staff and national policy leaders examine the legislative and regulatory landscape shaping shared ownership models. Panelists explore how employee ownership connects to broader national priorities, including retirement security, business succession, domestic investment, and supply chain resilience. Click here for the full discussion.
Check out the highlights
Related Resources
Biography | U.S. Representative Lori Trahan
Congressman Blake Moore Leads Legislation to Boost Employee Ownership in Small
“Major Wins for Employee Ownership in New Spending Bill” by Corey Rosen
Worker-owned Plywood Companies of the Pacific Northwest by Ben Craig and John Pencavel
Related Videos
Massachusetts Congresswoman Lori Trahan Speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum
Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy Speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum
Utah Congressman Blake Moore Speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen Speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum
About the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum
The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum brings together leading policymakers, practitioners, experts, and the media for a robust discussion on how we can grow employee ownership for the shared benefit of American workers and businesses. It is hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing.
About the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing
The purpose of the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing is to study the various models that have emerged and will emerge of employee ownership shares and profit shares in the corporation and society of the United States and around the world.
About the Economic Opportunities Program
The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.
Join Our Mailing List
To receive occasional emails about our work — including new publications, commentary, events, fellowships, and more — join our mailing list.
Connect on Social Media
For news and updates every day, connect with us on the social media platform of your choice.
