The brightest high school students from across the nation will debate Social Security and Medicare at a leadership and debate camp in Oklahoma from July 12 to 17. The students will spend time with retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks, learn from renowned leaders and then debate entitlement reform in a team format.

I Debate: Developing Leaders with General Tommy Franks is hosted by the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum, the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) and the Academy of Leadership & Liberty at Oklahoma Christian University (OC). The camp was announced Thursday during a news conference on the OC campus.

"By bringing the best and brightest students together to learn leadership skills and debate key issues, we are ensuring a brighter tomorrow," Franks said. "We must teach young people from all walks of life how to be leaders, embrace problems and tackle issues head on."

In addition to Gen. Franks, guest speakers during the July event include Dr. John Goodman, NCPA president and CEO; Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas; Dr. Mike O'Neal, president of OC; Barbara B. Kennelly, member of the Social Security Advisory Board; and Dr. Thomas Saving, NCPA senior fellow and former public trustee of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds. The debate will be moderated by popular talk radio host Mike Gallagher.

"Social Security and Medicare spending are on an unsustainable path and reform of these entitlements is one of the most critical issues facing our nation," Goodman said. "We think it's fitting that young Americans from all parts of the country learn about and begin addressing issues such as these, which will dominate their generation."

For more information on participating students, visit www.idebate.ncpa.org.

About I Debate: Developing Leaders with General Tommy Franks: The finest high school students in the nation will interact with political leaders and policy experts during a five-day leadership development and debate camp in Oklahoma. I Debate is hosted by the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum, the National Center for Policy Analysis and the Academy of Leadership & Liberty at Oklahoma Christian University.

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