Earlier this week on Capitol Hill, the Congressional Inventions Project brought a refreshing twist to policy engagement with its World IP Day Ice Cream Advocacy Social—serving up not just scoops, but a powerful reminder of how intellectual property fuels American innovation, jobs, and small businesses.

What started as a creative way to engage quickly became one of our most successful Hill activations to date.

A Sweet Snapshot by the Numbers

The energy was undeniable, and the turnout spoke volumes:

• 300+ Congressional staff engaged
• 73 House offices represented
• 4 Senate offices represented
• 3 Members of Congress in attendance
• 13 external stakeholder groups participated

From the first scoop to the last, the line never really stopped.

A Truly Bipartisan Gathering

In a political environment often defined by division, this event stood out for its broad, bipartisan appeal. Staff from dozens of offices—spanning the ideological spectrum—stopped by to connect over ice cream and discuss how patents, trademarks, and copyrights support jobs, entrepreneurship, and economic growth back home. Offices represented included leadership, committee members, and rank-and-file offices alike, with participation from both House and Senate offices. Senators such as Charles Grassley, Bernie Sanders, Tammy Duckworth, and Tim Kaine were represented, alongside staff from more than 70 House offices ranging from California to New York, Texas to Minnesota. The diversity of engagement reinforced a simple truth: innovation policy is not partisan—it’s foundational.

A Platform for Connection

The Ice Cream Advocacy Social created something that’s often hard to achieve on Capitol Hill: a relaxed, approachable environment for meaningful policy conversations.

Instead of formal meetings or packed briefings, this format allowed for:

·         Organic, one-on-one discussions

·         First-time engagement with offices unfamiliar with IP issues

·         Relationship-building with key staff and stakeholders

And perhaps most importantly, it made intellectual property tangible—connecting policy to real-world impact in a memorable way – and furthering the awareness of the Congressional Inventions Caucus.

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