DC Trip 17 Day 3 - Lobby Day

Day 3 - optional run with the usual suspects at 715. Checked out of the hotel at 9 and lugged our bags up Capitol Hill to Keating's new office in Rayburn. We did our first presentation to Gabrielle - his foreign affairs aide.

To summarize: Cesca and Tori introduced us, Colleen and Charbel gave personal testimonials about why we are passionate about these issues, Julie and Erin gave a summary of the background to these conflicts, Izzy and Grace did our first ask to be a co-sponsor on the soon-to-be-introduced Genocide and Atrocity Prevention Act to make permanent the Atrocities Prevention Board and the Complex Crisis Fund, Jack and Ben did our second ask to push for level-funding the International Affairs budget and UN support (the President has proposed 29% and 50% cuts) and to sign letters in Congress supporting this, Emma and Livia did our third ask to take a strong stand against the President's executive orders on refugees and immigration and to sign on to the bills opposing these, Pat did our fourth ask to co-sponsor the Caesar Syria Protection Act when it gets re-introduced to impose new sanctions on the Assad regime, Katie and Ryan asked for follow up questions and info, and Graham and Patrick did our concluding thank you. They did a great job impressing Gabrielle with their expertise and advocacy. Keating is already a big supporter and is strategically placed on the Foreign Affairs committee - and is on board with our asks. Following the meeting we walked down to the Capitol Visitor Center and took at tour with Anne Marie and Jen. Always a highlight to see the rotunda and statues etc.

After the tour we took the tunnel over to the Senate cafeteria for lunch - one of our favorite places to eat. We then did a meeting in Sen. Warren's office with Feras, the third time we've met with him. He was impressed as usual (do you know a lot about these issues? I do thanks to STAND (!)) and the kids did another great job. For Ms. G, visiting Warren's office was like a pilgrimage to Mecca.

For the first time in six hours we got to go outside and it had turned from a cool foggy morning to a warm sunny afternoon. Some of us took the chance to visit SCOTUS for a court room lecture while others opted to catch a few rays on the marble steps.

We headed next to our final presentation in Sen. Markey's office to Matthew. He was likewise appreciative and impressed us since the Sen. had recently been in a meeting pushing Sec. Tillerson on famine issues. Our day nearly at an end, we walked back across Capitol Hill to get our bags in Rep. Keating's office.

As we got through security in Rayburn, the door to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing Room was open so we ducked inside to see if we could check it out. Turns out the Oregon delegation staff was just cleaning up a spread of food for some constituents. They offered us the leftovers and we didn't say no. Go Ducks!

So we finally got to Keating's office, retrieved our bags, and just as we were about to get on the elevator, out walks Rep. Keating himself! Not only did he pose for a picture with us, but he then talked with us about human rights issues and other topics (AHCA is the worst bill I've ever seen) for a half hour! This was an unexpected treat and a great capstone to our trip.

We trudged back across the Hill with our bags to Union Station, had dinner in the food court, then got on a train to BWI.

Finally we got on our flight at 1030, arrived at Logan at midnight, got in our carpools, and got home ~2am. See you in school tomorrow! (I mean today)