A group of students got to be lobbyists for a day as part of Penn Israel Coalition's trip to Congress to round up political support for Israel.
28 students - most of whom are members of PIC - traveled to Washington D.C. on Wednesday. They met with ten different Congressmen and 13 other congressional staffers for photo opportunities and to discuss various bills that concern Israel and are currently on the floor of the House.
College junior Brandon Paroly, who organized the trip, said it was a valuable experience.
"It was good bonding and an opportunity for students to meet their representatives," he said.
The students arrived in Washington early in the morning via train after their bus did not come.
They split into groups of three or four and then met with a group of Congressmen or staffers who represent them in their home state.
College sophomore Hart Levine, who is from New York City, met with Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.
"First and foremost, I wanted to thank them for their support for Israel and wanted to let them know that their constituents have Israel as their top priority," he said.
Students who went on the trip met a week earlier to practice talking points and prepare for their lobbying experiences.
In some cases it was not so hard.
Florida Republican and member of the House of Representatives Lincoln Diaz-Balart was so agreeable during the discussion that it seemed like "he was lobbying us," Levine said.
College freshman Dani Wexler enjoyed the Capital Hill experience but also thought it was almost too easy.
"The only qualm I had with the advocacy trip was that a lot of the Congressmen were already pro-Israel - though it was reassuring to know that they were pushing for Israel," she said.
Still, students found issues to lobby.
When meeting with an aid for Congressman Henry Waxman (D-Ca.), Wexler encouraged the congressman to renew funding for Israel in future legislation.
Three Bryn Mawr students and an Israeli soldier studying at Temple University joined the group of Penn students, which also met Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) for a photo opportunity.
