Weekly Newsletter

Congressional group spends big on member trip to South Korea

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Aug. 9, 2021

Several members and their spouses accepted cushy travel to South Korea last month at the tune of nearly $19,000 per member.

The U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress spent just shy of $151,000 on six days of travel for just eight members - Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Ami Bera (D-Calif.), Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) and Young Kim (R-Calif.).

The trip ran from July 5 to 11 and featured business-class flights and lodging at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, according to recent disclosures. The congressional alumni group also picked up travel expenses for their spouses, with the exception of DeGette, who traveled solo. The non-profit Korea Society also contributed to the costs.

But the trip wasn't all play and no work. From July 5 to 11, the members met with Korean officials and North Korean defectors, visited U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, and toured Hyundai and Samsung facilities. They also met with U.S. service members at the demilitarized zone, which Gonzales documented on Instagram.

Some people and organizations who "caught our eye" last week:

Trending Staffers› learn more

Katie Britt, Chief of Staff, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) (former staffer) – Bravo!
Doing it without Trump's assistance
Abigail Marone, Press Secretary, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) (current staffer) – So-So
Unmasking criticism
David Buckley, Democratic Staff Director, Jan. 6 Select Committee (current staffer) – So-So
Not a quitter

Hill Hires

Jenna Marinstein, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Legislative Assistant
Mairéad Lynn, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Communications Director
Collin Miller, Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), Military Legislative Assistant
Elya Taichman, Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA), Legislative Director
Robby Wehagen, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Legislative Director

Hill Moves and Promotions

Andrew Scibetta, now Communications Director for Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-GA)
(formerly Communications Director to Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA))
Matt Bonaccorsi, now Communications Director/Senior Adviser for House Rules Committee
(formerly Communications Assistant)
Casey MacLean, now Legislative Assistant to Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA)
(formerly Policy Aide to House Natural Resources Committee's Water, Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee)

Top hashtags of the week

#covid19 – (155 mentions)
#votingrightsact – (111 mentions)
#americanrescueplan – (79 mentions)
#tokyoolympics – (78 mentions)
#teamusa – (53 mentions)
#childtaxcredit – (52 mentions)