Welcome to Harvard Model Congress 2012! My name is Jeff Lerman, and I will be chairing the Senate Armed Services Committee. I am excited to meet all of you and to hear your ideas and opinions. Our committee will be dedicated to generating creative and innovative solutions to the issues facing the United States Armed Services. The Armed Services Committee has historically been one of the most powerful Senate committees, and at this year’s conference you will have the opportunity to craft solutions and make decisions regarding the multinational military engagement in Libya. Libya represents America’s third significant military undertaking in the Muslim world in the last decade, and the conflict comes at a time when tensions in the region have never been higher. We will also be discussing the expanding operations of pirates off the coast of Somalia, and the role the U.S. Armed Services should play in reducing piracy and protecting ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
HMC is an incredible opportunity for each and every delegate to gain important experience and insight into how our democracy functions. In order to make the most of this weekend, I strongly encourage you to be fully acquainted with all the topics. The best way to do this is to read the briefings carefully and thoroughly, and to research any position that your senator may have on these issues. I hope you all come prepared to share ideas, challenge each other, think creatively, and most importantly, take risks. Do not be afraid to speak up. Each and every voice we hear enhances the quality and complexity of our committee.
To conclude, I’d like to tell you a little about myself. I grew up five blocks from Wrigley Field in Chicago, the greatest city on earth. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Wrigley Field, it is home to the only real baseball team in America: the Chicago Cubs. My passion for all Chicago sports (even the White Sox) takes up a good deal of my life, and the rest of my time is devoted to being a student. I am a junior at Harvard studying History and Economics, and I am also learning Portuguese. In my free time, I play on the Harvard Club Baseball team and I am a member of the Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper.
As the conference approaches and you begin to familiarize yourselves with the topics at hand, I’d love to hear from all of you about any questions or concerns you may have. I promise to respond in a timely fashion. Come prepared for a fast-paced weekend, and be ready to take risks right away. Good times await you at Harvard Model Congress 2012!
Congressionally Yours,