WASHINGTON—The Heritage Foundation today released its two flagship policy publications: “Mandate for Leadership” and “Solutions 2020.”
“Mandate for Leadership,” first published in 1981, has informed presidential administrations with principled policy recommendations for nearly 40 years. The latest edition, “Mandate 2020,” delivers a clear, unified policy vision for Congress and the White House centered on upholding the Constitution and on building an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish.
“Solutions 2020” serves as a comprehensive guide to the most important policy issues facing Americans—everything from taxes and U.S.-China relations to immigration and climate policy. The innovative new digital format makes “Solutions 2020” easy to access by anyone—particularly lawmakers and candidates at every level—who are interested in having richer, more meaningful conversations about both domestic and foreign policy issues.
“The Heritage team’s all-in effort to create these critical tools is something I am very proud of,” said Heritage Foundation President Kay C. James. “The Reagan administration adopted nearly half of ‘Mandate for Leadership’ recommendations in its first year and the Trump administration embraced nearly two-thirds in 2017. The Heritage Foundation is committed to ensuring these policy proposals and well-considered recommendations continue to shape our federal government.”
“Heritage researchers develop model policies for government with the individual in mind,” said James. “They are policies that allow every American to experience even more freedom and opportunity to flourish and pursue his or her dreams. ‘Solutions 2020’ fleshes these grand concepts out in a way that every American can take to public debates or even conversations with friends and neighbors.”
Heritage Vice President of Government Relations Thomas Binion recently hand-delivered a copy of “Mandate 2020” to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows (click to see video).
“Thank you and thank Mrs. James and all the folks at Heritage, not only for the wonderful gift—I will hand-deliver it to the president of the United States—but perhaps the 2020 ‘Mandate’ can be a blueprint for what happens in a second Donald J. Trump term,” Meadows said upon receiving the book.
In early 1981, The Heritage Foundation delivered to President Ronald Reagan the first-ever “Mandate for Leadership,” which contained more than 2,000 policy suggestions to move the federal government in a more responsible direction after years of explosive growth. The first edition appeared on The Washington Post’s paperback bestseller list and the Post said it “became a bible of sorts for many in the Reagan White House.”
Four years ago, with approximately 70 former Heritage employees working for the Trump transition team or as part of the administration, the policy recommendations served as guidelines for the president’s team. Analysis completed by Heritage determined that 64% of the policy prescriptions were included in Trump’s budget, implemented through regulatory guidance, or under consideration for action in accordance with The Heritage Foundation’s original proposals.
“The Heritage Foundation has a rich history of creating the tools for both sound policymaking and informed discussion and that’s exactly what we’ve aimed to do again with the latest editions of ‘Mandate for Leadership’ and ‘Solutions 2020,’” said Binion. “The new formats and timing of both publications make them more impactful than they have ever been.”
“Mandate 2020” contains 209 detailed and effective policy solutions that respect America’s principles of limited government, free enterprise, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
“Solutions 2020” provides issue overviews, recommendations, facts, figures, and messaging pocket cards for five broad policy areas (civil society, economic freedom, constitutional government, national defense and foreign policy), all grounded in The Heritage Foundation’s “True North” principles.
