In early April, ICLP students were presented a rare opportunity to meet with a group of current US Congressional staff members who were visiting Taiwan. The staff members, ten in all, represented Democrats and Republicans from both chambers of Congress, and traveled to Taiwan in order to gain a better understanding of Taiwan and the Taiwan-US relationship.

　　During the lunchtime meeting, ICLP students spoke with the staffers about a range of issues, from the nature Congress's work to the process of learning Chinese.

　　In my conversation with Mitch Vidovich, Legislative Assistant for US Senator Patrick J. Toomey, we discussed US-Taiwan trade relations and the controversy in Taiwan over US beef imports. While I had already gained a basic understanding of the US beef issue through the Taiwanese media, my conversation with Mr. Vidovich allowed me to better grasp the US's position and the importance that the US government places upon the issue within the overall Taiwan-US relationship.

　　I also had the chance to speak with Margaret Cumminsky, Democratic Deputy Staff Director on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and Jennifer Debes, Legislative Assistant for Florida Representative Ander Crenshaw. Through my conversations with both them and Mr. Vidovich, I was able to learn more about the variety of roles and responsibilities held by staffers on the Hill and the wide range of issues, from trade to national security, which Congressional staffers handle on a daily basis.