Abby Finkenauer taking U.S. State Department job

CEDAR RAPIDS — Former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer of Cedar Rapids is leaving the city to take a job with the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C.

The department announced Thursday that Finkenauer will become the department’s special envoy for global youth issues.

“So grateful to get the opportunity to serve as Special Envoy for Global Youth,” Finkenauer said in a tweet Thursday. “Ready for the work ahead and would love for you to see it all!”

Finkenauer, 33, was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives at age 25 and to the U.S. House at age 29. In 2019, the Democrat became the youngest woman to sponsor a bill that passed in the U.S. House.

She lost her re-election bid to Republican Ashley Hinson of Marion in 2020. This year, she ran for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, losing the June primary to Mike Franken, who lost to Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley in the November general election.

A news release from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Finkenauer’s legislative experience gives her insight into the “key role youth voices and perspective play in policymaking and good governance.”

In her new role, Finkenauer will work on youth-related programming related to the State Department’s foreign policy initiative and work with young people to formulate policies and programs, Blinken said in the news release.

“I warmly welcome Special Envoy Finkenauer to the Department and look forward to working with her as we champion global youth issues,” Blinken said.

Comments: CMcCullough@qctimes.com