The conference is a model simulation of the U.S. Congress. Members represent current congressmen and have the opportunity to write, debate and vote on bills through the legislative process.
“Basically we want to imitate how that [representative] would react in senate, however there is some leeway to use some of your own opinions and arguments,” said Garrett Wilson, sophomore economics major. “You want to represent your state well.”
Four senate committees are set up: foreign relations committee; armed services, homeland security and government affairs committee; health, education, labor and pensions committee and environment and public works committee.
The six Union students attending are: Michael Adkisson, senior business administration major in the seat of Jeff Flake (R-AZ) on the Foreign Relations Committee; Eddie Echeverria, sophomore political science major in the seat of Jack Reed (D-RI) on the Armed Services and Homeland Security Committee; Morgan Kroeger, senior accounting and Spanish major in the seat of Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN) of the Foreign Relations Committee; Seth Reid, freshman political science major in the seat of Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on the Armed Services and Homeland Security Committee; Jenaye White, senior public relations major in the seat of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Wilson, serving in the seat of Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on the Foreign Relations Committee.
“The Republican Party currently in the senate is in majority, so that’s what it will be modeled after,” White said. “[Mitch McConnell] is my assigned senator, so my role there is to assign the priority legislation and set the priorities and the agenda for the Republican Party and to lead the party in our stances on various legislation.”
Union’s connection to National Model Congress began when Alex Brown, former TISL governor, approached White at the 2014 TISL conference and suggested she look into getting a delegation from Union involved in National Model Congress.
After connecting with Brown further after TISL, White proposed the idea to Jason Castles, director of student leadership and engagement, and with his approval White researched travel and expense information for Bryan Carrier, dean of students and Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, university president. Soon after White submitted the proposal, Carrier approved Union to participate in National Model Congress and granted travel and conference expenses.
This year the senate will be the only chamber in session because not enough members applied for the house of representative positions, said Wilson.
White said her purpose was two-fold: learn more about senate and decide if National Model Congress is a program Union should continue investing in.
“My goal for this is for us to learn more about the legislative process,” White said. “but one of my goals in this is to determine whether National Model Congress is a program that SGA will incorporate into its year in years to come.”
