Campus Notebook: Idahoans in Africa highlight congressional travel
The latest travelogue and interesting disclosures
This week’s Campus Notebook highlights senators who recently jetted off to Mozambique, Israel and France and a staffer who sold a bunch of stocks, including from the tech industry.
Idahoans in Africa: Sen. Mike Crapo and his wife Susan joined Sen. Jim Risch and his wife Vicki for a trip to Johannesburg, South Africa and Mozambique. Crapo and his wife’s trip, paid for by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation, cost $14,113. Risch and his wife’s trip, paid for by the same group, cost $13,758.
The trip was from Aug. 19-28. Crapo’s disclosure form notes that they took business class flights to and from Johannesburg and a charter direct flight to Gorongosa National Park “for time and safety reasons.”
Gorongosa National Park’s website says it is one of the “world’s greatest places 2019–Time Magazine.” The trip by the Idaho Republicans is described as an effort to learn about the impact of U.S. investment in conservation on poverty alleviation, sustainable economic development and regional security.
Israel bound: Sen. Jacky Rosen, along with her husband Larry, traveled to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel, paid for by the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange, from Sep. 1-8.
The Nevada Democrat and her husband’s trip cost approximately $11,540. The trip is described as an educational seminar to meet with experts to learn about issues relevant to Israel and the region.
High Cotton: Sen. Tom Cotton traveled to Audrieu, France from Aug. 25-27. The trip estimated at $1,316 was paid for by The New Criterion.
The Arkansas Republican stayed at the Chateau d’Audrieu, a five-star hotel, which had estimated lodging costs of $690 for his stay. Cotton met with foreign leaders and diplomats at meetings to discuss U.S. foreign policy and other topics, including the role of the U.S. military in the world.
Meanwhile, Cotton’s staffer, Brian Colas, sold between $1,000 and $15,000 in stock in the following companies: Google, Verizon, Aflac, Facebook, Bank of America, McDonald’s, Microsoft, and Apple.
