2015 British American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) – A Project for the United Kingdom

The 2015 iteration of the British American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) welcomed four Conservative Party Members of Parliament (MP) and four Labour Party MP's to the U.S. for an engaging professional exchange program and individual constituency visits with the following Congressional members:

• Representative Robert Aderholt (Republican - Alabama, 4th District);
• Representative Ander Crenshaw (Republican - Florida, 4th District);
• Representative Paul Gosar (Republican - Arizona, 4th District);
• Representative Steve Russell (Republican - Oklahoma, 5th District);
• Representative Rodney Davis (Republican - Illinois, 13th District); and
• Representative Adam Schiff (Democrat - California, 28th District).

Their program began with a week in Washington during which the MP's learned about the U.S. federalist system of government, discussed issues of mutual interest with the Department of Defense, and spoke about the relationship between the U.S. and the U.K. with Department of State officials. British Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Westmacott then hosted the MP's for a brief meeting at his residence before they headed to a State Department sponsored lunch, where they heard former Congressman Cliff Stearns (Republican - Florida, 6th District) speak about his experiences in Congress and his work with APCO Worldwide. Next the group met with officials from the Government Accountability Office, Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service before shadowing congressional members on Capitol Hill. Representatives that took part in the day's appointments included Congressman Henry Cuellar (Democrat - Texas, 28th District); Congresswoman Robin Kelly (Democrat - Illinois, 2nd District); and Congresswoman Ann Wagner (Republican - Missouri, 2nd District).

After a self-guided tour of the White House, the MP's traveled to their respective Congressional hosts' districts, which included Phoenix, AZ; Jacksonville, FL; Oklahoma City, OK; Champaign, IL; Burbank, CA; 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 President of the Massachusetts State Senate Stan Rosenberg, Taubman Center for State and Local Governance Director Dr. Jeffrey Liebman, and a representative from Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (Democrat - Massachusetts) office. The program came to a conclusion Tuesday evening.

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