2018 British American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) – A Project for the United Kingdom

The 2018 visit of the British American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) welcomed three Labour Party Members of Parliament (MP) and three Conservative Party MPs to the U.S. for an engaging professional exchange. The week-long program emphasized the shared history and long-lasting relationship between the U.S. and United Kingdom (U.K.).

The six participating MPs included Darren Jones, Stephanie Peacock, and Matt Western, of the Labour Party, and Jack Brereton, David Duguid, and Damien Moore of the Conservative Party.

A highlight of the week was the opportunity to embark on individual constituency visits with the following Congressional members:

• Representative Tom O'Halleran
  (Democrat – Arizona, 1^st District);
• Representative Robert Aderholt
  (Republican – Alabama, 4^th District);
• Representative Paul Tonko
  (Democrat – New York, 20^th District);
• Representative Paul Gosar
  (Republican – Arizona, 4^th District);
• Representative Steve Russell
  (Republican – Oklahoma, 5^th District); and
• Representative Ralph Abraham, MD
  (Republican – Louisiana, 5^th District).

The MPs began their program in Washington, DC, with a briefing on U.S. federalism, lunch with representatives from the U.S. Department of State, and a discussion with Robert Faucher, Director of the Office of Western European Affairs, on U.S. political affairs in NATO, the EU, and in relation to ‘Brexit.’ The MPs continued this insightful conversation later in the day with officials at the State Department.

The following day, the MPs joined the Deputy Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Tathum, for breakfast at his private residence, where they discussed the Embassy’s relations with Congress and U.K. trade relations across the country. The MPs then had a meeting at the Department of Defense to discuss issues that face both nations and NATO, followed by lunch with representatives from the Meridian Corporate Council, an event sponsored by the Hess Corporation, during which they discussed the future and importance of U.S.-U.K. trade relations in the wake of “Brexit.” Later, the MPs joined a reception at the Rayburn House Office Building with members of the Congressional U.K. Caucus, including Rep. Ron Kind of Wisconsin, Rep. George Holding of North Carolina, and Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington, along with officials from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Their evening concluded with a special tour of the U.S. Capitol Building with Rep. Juan Vargas of California.

While still in the District, the MPs spent a day on Capitol Hill meeting with members of Congress. Participating representatives included Sen. John Boozman (Republican—Arkansas), Rep. Henry Cuellar (Democrat—Texas, 28^th District), Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (Republican—Wisconsin, 5^th District), Rep. Eliot L. Engel (Democrat—New York, 16^th District), Rep. Bill Keating (Democrat—Massachusetts, 9^th District), and Rep. Joe Wilson (Republican—South Carolina, 2^nd District). They also had a tour of the White House to culminate their Washington, DC visit.

The MPs were split individually for shadowing Congressional hosts from Albany, New York; Huntsville, Alabama; Globe, Arizona; Prescott, Arizona; and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, respectively. These visits gaive the MPs in-depth perspectives on immigration, agriculture, and economic development across the U.S. Activities of note included the Royal Air Force’s 100^th Anniversary at the Oshkosh Air Show, a Cattleman’s picnic in Prescott, and a Minor League Baseball game in Albany.

Following an exciting weekend, the program closed on July 30 in Boston, MA. Professional appointments included a visit with President of Massachusetts’ State Senate, Senator Karen Spilka; faculty of Harvard University’s, Kennedy School of Government: Taubman Center for State and Local Governance; and Mary Truong, Executive Director of Massachusetts’ Office for Refugees and Immigrants.

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