2014 British American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) – A Project for the United Kingdom

The 2014 iteration of the British American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) welcomed four Members of Parliament (MP) for a ten day exchange program in the United States. The parliamentarians were evenly split between the Conservative and Labour Parties and were paired with the following Congressional members:

• Representative Robert Aderholt (Republican - Alabama, 4th District);
• Representative Paul Gosar (Republican - Arizona, 4th District);
• Representative Michelle Lujan-Grisham (Democrat - New Mexico, 1st District); and
• Representative Ander Crenshaw (Republican - Florida, 4th District).

Over the course of their week in Washington, the MP's learned about the U.S. federalist system of government, spoke to officials about U.S. - U.K. relations, and took part in a congressional reception hosted by both the U.K. Congressional Caucus and the British Embassy. At a Department of State sponsored luncheon, the MP's also had the opportunity to hear from Mr. Brad Fitch regarding his work with the Congressional Management Foundation and former Michigan Governor Jim Blanchard about his experiences as a Congressman, Governor, and Ambassador to Canada. Subsequently, the participants had a series of meetings with Ambassador Peter Westmacott at the British Ambassador's Residence, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Government Accountability Office before enjoying the next day shadowing congressional members on Capitol Hill. Representatives that took part in the day's appointments included Congressman David Cicilline (Democrat - Rhode Island, 1st District), Congressman Mark Pocan (Democrat - Wisconsin, 2nd District), and Congresswoman Susan Brooks (Republican - Indiana, 5th District).

After a self-guided tour of the White House, the MP's traveled to their respective Congressional hosts' districts, which included Phoenix, AZ; Albuquerque, NM; Jacksonville, FL; and Huntsville, AL. The constituency visits allowed them to gain first-hand knowledge of the breadth and diversity of the U.S., and to see U.S. politics enacted at the local level.

Following a weekend of activities, the MP's regrouped for their final stop in Boston, MA. Professional appointments were confirmed with Executive Director Cathryn Cluver of the Future of Diplomacy Project, Professor David King of the Harvard University Institute of Politics, and Dr. Robert Pfaltzgraff of the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis. The program came to a conclusion on Tuesday evening after a tour of the Massachusetts State House.

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