10.04.2024: The State of Democracy
The event took place on 10.04.2024. A detailed report is available here (in German).
On April 10, 2024, a delegation of six former US Congress members of the Former Members of Congress Association (FMC) will visit the University of Potsdam for a student talk.
The mission of the Former Member Dialogue Program is not simply to foster ties between the United States and Germany, but to use the vast wealth of knowledge of former US Congress members to grow understanding and respect for the transatlantic relationship among a key demographic of younger Germans. Ahead of the pivotal 2024 US Presidential Elections, former elected officials will share their own viewpoints and experiences in representing the interests of Americans in Washington.
Topics
The upcoming 2024 election in the US, bipartisanship and how the US navigates a two-party system, intrinsic links between German and American diplomacy and politics, climate related diplomacy and cooperation, security concerns regarding the war in Ukraine, the developing conflict in the Middle East.
Program
15:00 – 15:15: Welcome (Professor Oliver Günther, Ph.D., President of the University of Potsdam)
15:15 – 16:15: Panel Discussion – "The State of Democracy" (40 min.) and Q & A with the audience (20 min.)
16:15 – 17:45: Live Breakout Sessions with six former members of the U. S. Congress
The panellists from both parties (Democrats and Republicans) are:
1.The Honorable Cheri Bustos (D-IL, 2013-2023)
Committees served: Agriculture, Appropriations, Transportation and Infrastructure
2. The Honorable Barbara Comstock (R-VA, 2015-2019)
President Elect of the Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC);
Committees served: Administration; Science, Space and Technology; Transportation and Infrastructure
3. The Honorable Charlie Dent (R-PA, 2005-2018)
Former Co-Chair, Congressional Study Group on Germany
Committees served: Appropriations; Ethics
4. The Honorable Bart Gordon (D-TN, 1985-2011)
Committees served: Energy and Commerce; Science and Technology; Budget; Rules; Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs; Select Committee on Aging
5. The Honorable Ron Kind (D-WI, 1997-2003)
Committees served: Ways & Means, Budget, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Education and Labor
6. The Honorable Fred Upton (R-MI, 1987-2023)
Committees served: Energy and Commerce
Registration and information: “The State of Democracy: Panel Discussion and Workshop with Former Members of the U.S. Congress” https://openup.uni-potsdam.de/course/view.php?id=452 /password: SDFMCUP24