28 Students Attended JSA Winter Congress in Washington D.C.

Students’ participation in JSA Winter Congress 2019 begins before the convention starts as students work in teams to research and write legislation. At the convention, students are assigned to committees where all the legislation is discussed and marked up. Amendments are made and language is clarified while the students learn the art of compromise to earn the committee votes needed to send their legislation the floor of the House or Senate. Public speaking skills are emphasized as the sponsors of the legislation that passed in committee take the podium in the full House and Senate sessions. Supporters and opponents of each bill get a chance to speak and persuade the members to support their position. This year, two bills were placed on the legislative docket that passed the House and Senate. It was an action-packed weekend of debating with 1200 other high school students from the Mid-Atlantic Region. 

Congratulations to Ari Kleiman for receiving a Best Speaker Gavel and to all students who were involved in the convention.

The following were the bills presented and passed:
A BILL TO ALLOW UNITED STATES TERRITORIES TO VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Sponsored by: Senators Sofia Langan and Skylar Reynolds

Representatives Shannon Morales and Diego Serrano

A BILL TO ADMIT PUERTO RICO INTO THE UNION

Sponsored by: Senators Ignacio Baerga and Lorenzo Solanot

Representatives Cecilia Rao and Gabriela Acevedo