Bill Gates set for closed-door session with freshmen lawmakers

Bill Gates will don his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation co-chairman hat and head to Capitol Hill on Thursday, where he’s expected to speak before the freshmen class of lawmakers.

The Hill reports he will speak on leadership and how governments can use goal-setting strategies to bring forth nonpartisan policies. The gathering is closed to the press.

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In past meetings on Capitol Hill, Mr. Gates has pushed for a range of policy reforms.

Twice, in 2007 and 2008, he sought relaxed immigration policy to allow for more foreign-born engineers and skilled workers to enter the United States. CNET reports in 2008 that Mr. Gates spoke to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology about America’s need to remain competitive in the global market and said, “It makes no sense to educate people in our universities, often subsidized by U.S. taxpayers, and then insist they return home.”

And in September 2011, Mr. Gates pushed lawmakers for more green energy, in a joint appearance before Congress with members of the American Energy Innovation Council. To reporters, Mr. Gates said then, “We are all big believers in the importance of energy innovation.” Despite tight budgets, “we think this is an investment that has a very strong payback,” he said about alternative energy development, The Hill reports.

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