Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Van Duyne (R-TX) and Congresswoman Clarke (D-NY) held a press conference to officially launch the Congressional Creators Caucus, a bipartisan effort to recognize, support, and empower the rapidly expanding digital creator economy. The Members were joined by numerous creators, including Matthew Patrick (MatPat) and Stephanie Patrick. 

With over 70 million content creators earning income from their online content, it is safe to say that every Congressional District across the country has people financially benefitting from their creativity, ingenuity, and ability to reach viewers from around the world. The country is filled with creators who are building brands, hiring local teams, and contributing to their communities. 

“The Congressional Creators Caucus seeks to empower more Americans to follow their dreams, build their own small businesses, and share their unique perspectives with the world,” said Rep. Van Duyne. “The Creators Caucus hopes to bring better understanding to how these developing small businesses are operating, what struggles they face, and how Congress can work with them to foster growth, opportunity, safety, and security for our digital creators and their viewers alike.”

“As digital content creators’ online presence continues to reach billions globally, Congress must work to ensure resources and protections are in place to support their success in this new era of start-ups,” said Rep. Clarke. “Congress has a responsibility to meet this moment. That is why I am proud to establish this caucus as a first-of-its-kind bipartisan forum for content creators and Congress to work together to address the challenges they face as nontraditional small business owners. Creators’ voices deserve to be heard throughout the policy-making process, and the Creators Caucus is the key to ensuring they are.”

"Every congressional district has creator-led businesses. This is not a coastal-cities industry or a middle-America industry, this is everyone,” said Matt and Stephanie Patrick. “Many of the issues facing the creator economy also increasingly impact small businesses at large. It is our hope that this Caucus will give lawmakers the opportunity to work closely with creator-led businesses to make sensible, well-informed decisions that will lead to smarter policies.”

“The creator economy is a powerful economic engine in the United States, making significant contributions to GDP and job growth,” said Alexandra Veitch, Senior Director, YouTube Government Affairs & Public Policy. “Creators are building business, growing audiences, and sharing their voices online. We are thankful to Representatives Clarke and Van Duyne for launching the Congressional Creators Caucus and look forward to continuing the work to support the growing creator ecosystem.” 

“Too often, creators are overlooked in economic policy discussions—despite being small business owners, employers, and cultural tastemakers in every congressional district,” said Courtney Duffy, Patreon Head of External Affairs & Strategic Engagement. “The bipartisan Congressional Creator Caucus is a crucial step toward recognizing their impact and ensuring they have a seat at the table in shaping the policies that affect their livelihoods. We commend Representatives Clarke and Van Duyne for their leadership in elevating creators as part of America’s longstanding tradition of entrepreneurship and as key contributors to a strong, dynamic, and competitive economy.” 

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