The American Legion Boys Nation 76th Session
The American Legion believes there is no better way to assure the survival of our republic than to train our young people in the ideals and objectives of American government. By teaching youth to understand and appreciate the basic principles involved in the successful management of a democratic society, America can remain strong and ensure our freedom for future generations.
The American Legion, through its youth activities programs, plays a leading role in the development of tomorrow’s informed, responsible citizens. Programs such as American Legion Boys State and Boys Nation are our finest examples of citizenship instruction for youth.
American Legion Boys
State is a unique summertime educational program that does not emphasize classroom lecture and textbook learning. Instead, it focuses on participation and personal experience in a model state, complete with governing bodies and elected public officials. It is designed to mirror the structure and operation of its respective state government.
Boys States select two of their most outstanding participants to represent them each year at American Legion Boys Nation. Conducted in Washington, D.C., it is here that the boys are introduced to the structure and function of the federal government. Actual participation in the political process is highlighted
through the week’s activities to include the organization of party conventions, platforms, the Boys Nation Senate and the nomination and election of a Boys Nation President and Vice President.
The first American Legion Boys Nation (then called Boys Forum of National Government) was held on the campus of American University, Washington, D.C., in August 1946. The 1946 National Convention of The American Legion in San Francisco, Calif., officially adopted it as a major youth activity of The American Legion. In 1949, the name of the program was changed to “American Legion Boys Nation.” Four universities have hosted Boys Nation since its
The American Legion 2022 Boys Nation Yearbook
inception. From 1946 through 1951, and from 1969 to 1985, the program was conducted at American University. From 1952 through 1967, it was held at the University of Maryland. The site of the 1968 program was Georgetown University. In 1986, the program was moved to its present site at Marymount University in Arlington, Va.
Speakers and presenters at Boys Nation include individuals holding national elected and appointed positions within the federal government, organization and lay leaders of national notoriety and, at times, youth leaders who had previously experienced Boys Nation.
During a visit to Capitol Hill, Boys Nation Senators meet with U.S. Senators and Representatives from their home states. They also participate in
a solemn and dignified wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.
Boys Nation has been received by several Presidents of the United States. President Harry S. Truman, a life member of American Legion Post 21 in Independence, Mo., met with senators from 1947 through 1951. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a life member of James R. Cutler Post 39, Abilene, Kan., met the delegates in 1956 and 1957. President John F. Kennedy, a member of Crosscup-Pishon Post 281, Boston, Mass., met the Senators in the Rose Garden in 1962 and 1963. President Lyndon B. Johnson, a life member of Memorial Highway Post 352, Blanco, Texas, spoke with the Senators in 1967. In 1970 and 1971, the Boys Nation Senators
were addressed by President
Richard M. Nixon, a member of Whittier Post 51, Whittier, Calif. President Gerald R. Ford, a life member of Furniture City Post 258 in Grand Rapids, Mich., spoke to Boys Nation in 1975 and again during the special Bicentennial Boys/Girls Nation program in 1976. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter, a life member of Americus Post 2, Americus, Ga., greeted delegates. In 1984 and also 1986 through 1988, President Ronald Reagan, a life member of Pacific Palisades Post 283, Pacific Palisades, Calif., met with the Boys Nation Senators in the White House. Boys Nation was received by George Bush during his presidency in 1992 and President Bill Clinton, the first graduate of Boys Nation to be elected to the U.S. Presidency, met with the senators each year
of his administration. President George W. Bush met with Boys Nation Senators seven times.
President Barack Obama met with the Boys Nation Senators six times. In 2017 President Donald Trump met with the Boys Nation Senators in the White House Rose Garden. American Legion Boys Nation is a program conducted by the Americanism Commission of The American Legion. Correspondence may be directed to the program by writing: American Legion Boys Nation, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 or by email to boysstate-nation@ legion.org
Schedule of Events
Day 1 Friday, July 22
• Delegate arrival at Marymount University
• Section meetings
• Political party receptions and ice cream social
Day 2 Saturday, July 23
• Welcome assembly and general orientation
• Oath of office
• Legislative assembly and orientation
• Party conventions
• Senate committees
• First Boys Nation Senate session
• Section meetings
Day 3 Sunday, July 24
• Boys Nation memorial service
• Boys Nation Senate session
• Senate committees
• Legion Night” dinner and program at Greenbelt Legion Post 136
• Tour of National Mall
• Section meetings
Day 4 Monday, July 25
• Arlington National Cemetery visit and wreath presentation at the Tomb of the Unknowns
• Visit Iwo Jima Memorial
• Party conventions
• Section meetings
Day 5 Tuesday, July 26
• Party conventions
• Boys Nation Senate sessions
• Presidential and vice presidential candidate debates
• Boys Nation elections
Day 6 Wednesday, July 27
• Inauguration of Boys Nation President and Vice President
• Boys Nation Senate sessions
• Twilight Tattoo
Day 7 Thursday, July 28
• Hill Day visits with U.S. Senators
• Boys Nation Senate sessions
Day 8 Friday, July 29
• Final Boys Nation Senate session
• Banquet dinner
Day 9 Saturday, July 30
• Depart for home
DAY 1 Friday, July 22
“I hope to be president of Boys Nation. But I also hope to get some lifelong friends, get connections, and just get a better understanding of what our government’s all about.”
Hank Word (MO)
The first day of American Legion Boys Nation is punctuated by bursts of activity — groups of senators representing Boys State programs nationwide checking into Boys Nation; the four sections meeting to hear from their counselors on what to expect from their “week that shapes a lifetime”; the two political parties, the Federalists and the Nationalists, gathering to start finding their party’s agenda.
Boys Nation Delegates arrive at Marymount University. Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY 1 Friday, July 22
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Delegates talk as they await the arrival of other delegates. Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY 2 Saturday, July 23
“Definitely not what I ever expected for the final two rounds of the election, but the people ask for what the people want, and we try to deliver.”
Andrew Dillard (AL), who engaged in a rap battle with David Lee (IN) during voting for president pro tempore
After taking the oath of office, administered by American Legion National Security Division Director Mario Marquez, the senators of the 76th session of Boys Nation got to work, introducing legislation and electing a president pro tempore, Andrew Dillard (AL), and a secretary of the Senate, Dev Madhavani (CT).
They also heard a state of the union address from Ryan Jung, elected president at the 75th session of Boys Nation the year before.
2022 Boys Nation delegates. Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY 3 Sunday, July 24
“Knowing that we’re here to think about the future of the country, you can feel the legacy. … You can feel the history being made every day, it’s awesome.”
Owen Bland (CT)
For some, the experience of actually being in the Washington, D.C., area doesn’t sink in until Boys Nation’s first trip off campus on Sunday. The senators and staff bus to American Legion Post 136 in Greenbelt, Md., for dinner and social time with Legion Family and National Commander Paul Dillard. Then it’s off to the National Mall to visit the memorials there.
“When we first came here, I hate to say it but it almost felt like we were still in Idaho, I didn’t get that whole surreal feeling of, ‘Oh, wow, I’m in Washington, D.C.’,” said Jayden LaVecchia (ID). “And then we went over to the Legion post, and I got to meet so many amazing people over there, including the national commander, got to hear some amazing stories, and that’s when it started to kick in, the surrealness of, ‘Whoa, there is something more than just me out there.’”
Boys Nation visits the National Mall. Photo by Hilary Ott
3
American Legion Boys Nation delegates and staff were guests at dinner at Greenbelt (Md.) Post 136. Photo by Hilary Ott
Boys Nation visits the Vietnam Wall. Photo by Hilary Ott
Boys Nation visits the Vietnam Wall. Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY 4
Monday, July 25
I thought that I was going to be pretty unprepared; I was a little nervous to uphold the level of respect that is required here. But luckily the guards here did a great job walking me through the process, and I came out very happy with the result and with a great sense of awe at the moment.”
Kassem (MA), who laid a wreath
the
Monday at Boys Nation runs the gamut from the respectful silence at Arlington National Cemetery in the morning to the vocal support for presidential and vice presidential candidates during the party conventions in the evening.
Yusek
at
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier along with Rylan Cruise (NC).
Boys Nation lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Photo by Hilary Ott
American Legion 2022 Boys Nation Yearbook
DAY 4 Monday, July 25
The
Boys Nation visits Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY
5 Tuesday, July 26
“The fight for our veterans is never over because we have only just begun. We will fight today. We will fight tomorrow. And we will fight forever for our veterans in the United States.”
2022 Boys Nation President Tamarus Darby Jr. (MI), speaking at the American Legion National Convention
Boys Nation elected its top two officers on Tuesday.
Tamarus Darby Jr. (MI) edged John Wiest (RI), 50-48, to be elected president of the 76th session of Boys Nation. Darby is the first Boys Nation president from Michigan since 1976.
In the vice presidential election, Raj Talati (SC) defeated Nathaniel Janssen (MN), 53-44.
2022 Boys Nation President Tamarus Darby Jr. addresses his peers. Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY 5 Tuesday, July 26
2022 Boys Nation Vice President Raj Talati takes the oath of office. Photo by Hilary Ott
2022 Boys Nation delegates await the results of the election. Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY 6 Wednesday, July 27
“In my home state of Vermont, we have a lot of people that have small businesses, and also run for office, so my state in particular (could be at a disadvantage) because qualified candidates would not run for office.”
Gavin Bannister (VT), stating his opposition to a bill that would prevent sitting Congressmen from serving on boards Wednesday morning saw the inauguration ceremony for President Tamarus Darby and Vice President Raj Talati. That evening, Boys Nation and their counterparts at American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation visited Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall to watch Twilight Tattoo, featuring soldiers reenacting the history of the U.S. Army.
Amid visits to the National Mall and Arlington National Cemetery, and the elections of four officers, the American Legion Boys Nation Senate’s purpose is to consider the bills and resolutions each senator brings to the program with them.
Boys Nation applauds during Twilight Tattoo at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY 6 Wednesday, July 27
Twilight Tattoo at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY 7 Thursday, July 28
“Washington,
D.C., is one of my favorite cities in the country, I’d love to live here and work here someday, especially helping out with the legislative body.”
Luke Pullin (GA)
The senators of Boys Nation joined their counterparts from American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation to visit senators and their staffs on Capitol Hill on Thursday.
While many of the Boys Nation and Girls Nation senators were making their way to appointments in the Senate offices, others — whose appointments were to meet at the Capitol itself — found themselves witnessing a press conference in which representatives of The American Legion and other veterans service organizations criticized the Senate vote which delayed passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act.
Boys Nation and Girls Nation Senators visited their real-world counterparts and their staff on Capitol Hill
Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY 7 Thursday, July 28
Boys Nation and Girls Nation visit their members of Congress on Capitol Hill. Photo by Hilary Ott
Boys Nation and Girls Nation visit their members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
Photo by Hilary Ott
DAY 8 Friday, July 29
“I wasn’t 100 percent sure what to expect going into (Boys Nation). But at the end of the week, I can tell you I made the right decision to come to Boys Nation, 100 percent.”
American Legion Boys Nation’s 76th session came to a close Friday with a visit to the White House and a graduation dinner and ceremony.
Retiring Americanism Commission Chairman Richard Anderson was also recognized at the graduation ceremony.
Nation
sing together
the graduation dinner at Marymount University. Photo by Hilary Ott
Colin Street (WV)
The American Legion 2022 Boys Nation Yearbook DAY 8 Friday, July 29
The 2022 American Legion Boys Nation graduation ceremony. Photo by Hilary Ott
The 2022 American Legion Boys Nation graduation ceremony. Photo by Hilary Ott
The
Andrew Dillard Alabama Bo Miller Alabama Simon King Alaska Mckinley Rhoades Alaska Trex Jones Arizona Cooper Weissman Arizona
Henry Chilcoat Arkansas Hudson Seago Arkansas
Luca Asulo California
Daniel Guerrero California Kitson Broadbelt Colorado Jayce Scudder Colorado
Owen Bland Connecticut Dev Madhavani Connecticut
Venya Kuzichev District of Columbia
Matthew Meyer District of Columbia
Andrew Bebbington Delaware
Aaron Maniyatte Delaware
Anthony Busatta Florida Brady White Florida Jason Eappen Georgia
Luke Pullin Georgia
Bridger Benson Idaho Jayden Lavecchia Idaho
Ryder Becker Illinois Julian Hernandez Illinois
The American Legion 2022 Boys Nation Yearbook
Matthew Degne Indiana Shinwoo (David) Lee Indiana York Meggison Iowa Elliot Nelson Iowa Lukas Haase Kansas Konnor Quinn-Colman Kansas
Scott Bricker Kentucky Jonathan Gold Kentucky
Raj Letchuman Louisiana
Jaylen Pruiett Louisiana
Alecssander Freitas Maine Peter Van Overbeke Maine
Matthew Lynard Maryland Zach McGrath Maryland
Yusef Kassem Massachusetts
Nico Nevard Massachusetts Tamarus Darby Jr Michigan
Nicholas Rutoski Michigan
Nathaniel Janssen Minnesota Evan Schotzko Minnesota Jason Olson II Mississippi
Xavier Washington Mississippi Hank Word Missouri Carter Gleason Missouri Roman Jacobson Montana Grady Radtke Montana
Holden Fershee Nebraska Vikram Menon Nebraska James Lewis Nevada
Dillon Moss Nevada
Warren Chen New Hampshire
Nick Constantini New Hampshire
Noah Morros New Jersey Kyler Zhou New Jersey
Zachary Chavez New Mexico
Tristan Eggenberger New Mexico
Dominic Enright New York
Aiden Mikolajczyk New York
Rylan Cruise North Carolina
Johnathan Meeks North Carolina
Hayden Fredrickson North Dakota
Will Nelson North Dakota
Tim Adams Jr. Ohio Carter Kohli Ohio Titus Johnson Oklahoma
Dalton Lewis Oklahoma Samuel Bohn Oregon Orion Van Buskirk Oregon
Jack Chaney Pennsylvania Yajat Gupta Pennsylvania
The
Griffin Taylor Rhode Island
John Wiest Rhode Island South Carolina
Kshiraj Talati South Carolina
Dustin Hermansen South Dakota
Jason Lenning South Dakota
Connor Cope Tennessee
John Tolsma II Tennessee
Owen Oppenheimer Texas Cole Sloan Texas Gai Gai Utah
Chris Poole Utah
Brooks Balkan Vermont
Gavin Bannister Vermont
Aaron Liu Virginia
Ibrahim Omeish Virginia
Colin Street West Virginia Braden Whitelatch West Virginia Naod Fessahaye Wisconsin
Andriy Ovod Wisconsin
J.P. Anderson Wyoming
Sam Rankin Wyoming
Tim Aboudara Legislative Director
Richard Anderson Americanism Chairman
Mark Avis Utility Counselor
James Baca Executive Director
Clay Ballenger Adams Senior Counselor
Dennis Barlow Office Manager
Jeff Bennett Program Coordinator
Benjamin Birdsell Video Production Tech
Tom Bock Program Director
Corey Brooks Washington Senior Counselor
Joseph Campbell Madison Senior Counselor
Robert Caudell Asst. Director Activities
Jeff Daly E-Tech
Thomas Davies Jefferson Junior Counselor
James Davis Supply Manager
Christian Dykson
Madison Junior Counselor
Edward Gonet IV Madison Junior Counselor
Ken Hart Jefferson Senior Counselor
Ryan Jung Washington Junior Counselor
Bart Looper Legislative Admin. Asst.
Joseph McCraith Jr. Nationalist Party Counselor
Bill Murphy Assistant Supply Manager
Joseph Pitts Adams Junior Counselor
Andy Proffet Media Team
Dan Rummel Federalist Party Counselor
Holly Soria Visual Arts Manager
Callahan Stroud Adams Junior Counselor
Caleb Weiland Jefferson Junior Counselor
Jeric Wilhelmsen Visual Media
Jordan Willey Washington Junior Counselor
The American Legion 2022 Boys Nation Yearbook
Senate Officers
Andrew Dillard (AL)
President Pro Tempore
Dev Madhavani (CT)
Secretary of the Senate
Will Nelson (ND)
Asst. Secretary of the Senate
Hudson Seago (AR)
Asst. Secretary of the Senate
David Lee (IN)
Chief Clerk of the Senate
Raj Taliti (SC)
Assistant Clerk of the Senate
Jayce Scudder (CO)
Senate Sergeant-At-Arms
Bridger Benson (ID)
Senate Chaplain
Anthony Busatta (FL)
Senate Parliamentarian
Assignment and Calendar Committee
Adams: Trex Jones (AZ)
Jefferson: Carter Gleason (MO)
Madison: Yajat Gupta (PA)
Washington: Kshiraj Talati (SC)
Section Spokesperson
Adams: Jason Eappen (GA)
Jefferson: Matthew Denger (IN)
Madison: Timothy Adams (OH)
Washington: Dustin Hermansen (SD)
The
The President of Boys Nation may nominate any senator to a position that is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Presidential appointments will be confirmed by a majority vote of the Boys Nation Senate during the final senate session. This list is not exhaustive but meant as a helpful guide.
Department of State
Secretary of State Xavier Washington MS
Deputy Secretary of State Bridger Benson ID
Permanent Representative and Chief of Mission to the United Nations Andriy Ovod WI
Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Alecssander Freitas ME
Ambassador to Vatican City Niko Nevard MA
President Tamarus Darby Jr. MI
Vice-President Kshirai Talati SC
Chiefs of Staff
Matthew Lynard
Trex Jones MD AZ
Presidential Appointments
Chief Political Advisors
Evan Schotzko Yusef Kassem MN MA
Press Secretary Cole Sloan TX
Department of Defense
Secretary of Defense Roman Jacobson MT
Deputy Secretary of Defense Andrew Bebbington DE
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Lukas Haase KS
Chief of Staff of the Army Aaron Liu VA
Department of Justice
Attorney General Brady White FL
Solicitor General Owen Bland CT
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Peter VanOverbeke ME
Department of Treasury
Secretary of the Treasury Tim Adams OH
Treasurer of the United States Matthew Degnar IN
Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service Christopher Poole UT
Chief of Naval Operations Jason Lenning SD Commandant of the Marine Corps
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency York Meggison IA
Julian Hernandez IL
Chief of Staff of the Air Force Dustin Hermanson SD
Chief of the National Guard Bureau Jayden LaVecchia ID
Secretary of the Army
Braden Whitelatch WV
Secretary of the Navy Jonathan Gold KY
Secretary of the Air Force
Department of the Interior
Secretary of the Interior Luka Fasulo CA
Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service John Tolsma II TN
Konnor QuinnColman KS
The American Legion 2022 Boys Nation Yearbook
Presidential Appointments
Department of Agriculture
Secretary of Agriculture Grady Radtke MT
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture McKinley Rhodes AK
Chief of the U.S. Forest Service James Miller AL
Department of Commerce
Secretary of Commerce John Wiest RI
Department of Labor
Secretary of Labor Owen Oppenheimer TX
Deputy Secretary of Labor Colin Street WV
Commissioner of the Bureau of Statistics Creed Gai UT
Department of Education
Secretary of Education Zach McGrath MD
Deputy Secretary of Education Carter Kohli OH
Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Health and Human Services Jaylen Pruiett LS
Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Ryder Becker IL
Surgeon General Aaron Maniyatte DE
Director of the National Institutes of Health Raj Letchuman LA
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Daniel Guerrero CA
Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Fordham Daniels SC
Department of Transportation
Secretary of Transportation Venya Kuzichev DC
Department of Energy
Secretary of Energy Gu Guy UT
Deputy Secretary of Energy Kitson Broadbelt CO
Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nicholas Rutkoski MI
Department of Homeland Security
Secretary of Homeland Security
Commandant of the Coast Guard
Assistant Secretary of U.S.
Nathaniel Janseen MN
Nick Costantini NH
Immigration and Customs Enforcement David Lee IN
U.S. Trade Representative
Connor QuinnColman KS
Director of National Intelligence Shinwoo Lee IN
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Carter Gleason MO
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Elliot Nelson IA
Director of the Secret Service Hank Word MO
Supreme Court
Associate Justice Warren Chen NH
Associate Justice Tristan Eggenberger NM
Associate Justice Yajat Gupta PA
Associate Justice Jason Olson II MS
Associate Justice Ibrahim Omeish VA
Associate Justice Griffin Taylor RI
Associate Justice Paul Balkan VT
Associate Justice Naod Fessahaye WS
Associate Justice Gavin Bannister VT
Director of Government Ethics Vikram Menon NE
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Federalist Party Officers
Convention Chairman Cole Sloan TX
Convention Secretary Elliot Nelson IA
Convention Clerk Gai Gai UT
Convention Parliamentarian Nathaniel Janssen MN
Sergeant-At-Arms Nicholas Costantini NH
Timer J.P. Anderson WY
Timer Holden Fershee NE
Platform Committee Chairman Anthony Busatta FL
Platform Committee Secretary Braden Whitelatch WV
Platform Committee Member Noah Morros NJ
Platform Committee Member Jonathan Gold KY
Platform Committee Member Yusef Kassem MA
Rules Committee Chairman Komen Jacobson MT
Rules Committee Secretary Dominic Enright NY
Rules Committee Member Gavin Bannister VT
Rules Committee Member Owen Bland CT
Rules Committee Member Dustin Hermansen SD
Presidential Candidate John Wiest RI
Vice Presidential Candidate Nathaniel Janssen MN
Party Chairman Cole Sloan TX
Party Keynoter Ford Daniels SC
Campaign Manager Shinwoo Lee IN
Party Whip Samuel Bohn OR
Chaplain Henry Chilcoat AR
Federalist Party Platform
Inflation
With record-high inflation and wages not following, the Federalist Party supports decisive and effective measures to combat inflation and keep money in working-class Americans’ pockets. We support the Federal Reserve’s recent decision to increase the federal interest rate and increase the returns on people’s savings. We also support an increase of the federal minimum wage to $8 an hour in one year and $10 an hour in two years for non-tipped employees and $5 an hour in one year for tipped employees. We believe this will ensure the Americans who are struggling the most will be able to keep up with the rising cost of living across the country.
Affordable Housing
The party believes that affordable housing is a right afforded to all. With this in mind, the Federalist Party strongly supports policies to increase access to affordable housing such as antidiscrimination laws in regard to housing vouchers, more highdensity housing, condemning public hostile architecture for the purpose of reducing the homeless population in a certain area, and restricting large corporations’ ability to buy residential property by significantly outbidding native residents of the area. We believe the preceding policies will allow for a decrease in homelessness and an increase in the overall quality of life of the bottom 99%.
Environmental Protection
The Federalist Party cares deeply about our environment. Along with legislation to protect our climate, the Federalist Party will work tirelessly to legislate habitat, wildlife, and natural resource protection. For example, in the United States, over 1,300 species of our native wildlife are threatened, endangered, or on the brink of extinction. These species are Federalist priority. As shown in laws like the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty
Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act, actions taken in the legislature to protect our wildlife can lead to tangible improvement in species’ overall health as well as population increases. In terms of climate change, we support common-sense legislation that targets the biggest polluters and incentivizes a gradual shift away from non-renewable resources. But the work of the Federalist Party is far from over. Many species of plants and animals are still vulnerable, endangered, or face extinction, while many of the United States habitats and its natural resources also face a similar fate. It’s our duty as Federalists, as well as citizens of the United States, to do everything in our elective and legislative power to protect the environment that calls the land of the United States home.
Energy Production
Currently, as a global community, we are cascading towards what many may call a “climate disaster”. Summer temperatures are consistently rising, and natural disasters seem to worsen with each storm season, yet still it seems nothing is being done to stop, or slow, the climate crisis. This is where nuclear power may play an incredibly important role. The Federalist Party, vying for a cleaner/greener future, is unequivocally pro-nuclear power. Nuclear power is one of, if not, the most efficient, safe, and cleanest forms of energy, all for a fraction of the cost of typical energy sources like oil or coal. With this in mind the party also strongly advocates for worker training and vocational programs to facilitate the transition to renewable forms of energy. More efficient sources of renewable energy can replace oil or coal, but nuclear fission energy is clearly the best energy alternative to traditional sources of energy like fossil fuels. If we, as a nation, hope to see a carbon-free future, nuclear power is the first step to achieving it.
Federalist Party
Foreign Affairs
It seems that with every new day that comes there is a new global flare in the world. The United States stands, and has always stood for liberty and freedom across the globe. The Federalist party will do the duty that has been bestowed upon them by this great nation to maintain the United States’ role in maintaining the free world. We hope to accomplish this by continuing to provide our support on the path to peace in conflicting nations. Specifically funding and mediating summits between Palestine and Israel in the hopes that we can make an impact. In addition to this we will continue to hold our enemies at bay, and oppose advances in power or ideology that is threatening to world democracy, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, as well as build, develop, and repair relations with neighboring Latin America. We will also adamantly defend Taiwan as tensions with the neighboring People’s Republic of China heighten.
Prison Reform
The Federalist Party recognizes that there are disparities in incarceration rates in the United States of America. We recognize that Black men are 6 times more likely to be incarcerated and Latinos are 2.5 times more likely to be arrested in comparison to their white counterparts. The Federalist Party will do its democratic duty to find the balance between wrongful incarceration and proper incarceration of criminals in our community. Along with this includes reforms to our prison system. We must end the capitalization of our mass incarceration. Private for-profit prisons must be either ended or reformed in order to end the United States’ epidemic of mass incarceration. The party also clarifies reforms as those that include rehabilitation.
Voting Turnout
The Federalist Party has resolved to establish Election Day as a national holiday. With this, our goal is to bolster the current 62% voting turnout to 70%.
Ranked Choice Voting
We, the Federalist Party, plan to encourage the implementation of the RCV system on a state to state basis. We feel this system is the future of the democratic voting process and will result in individual votes holding more power and an increase in opportunity for third parties.
Disability and Mental Health Support
The Federalist Party strongly believes that the hardships and stigmatization of Americans with disabilities and mental health issues can be solved through education and assistance. To impact the hardships of having a disability we aim to provide these people with special help and guided learning from teachers who have had previous experience with their specific disability. We strongly support policy to help aid veterans and their mental health. We recognize that many of the homeless and jobless Americans are those who have lost their belief in themselves and in their abilities to hold a job. We strongly encourage companies to implement specialized jobs for their creative abilities and neurodivergent talents. Similarly, for mental health issues we plan to tackle the problem within education with the implementation of further information and help into the standardized curriculum.
Healthcare
The Federalist Party plans to implement a Fundamental Healthcare system which aims to provide basic healthcare to all Americans. With all Americans having access to primary healthcare we hope to fill the rights and needs of our citizens to health and safety. In clarification of our fundamental healthcare plan, it will function in parallel with private healthcare as it is a core part of our economy.
Immigration Reform
The Federalist Party believes that immigrants are a core part of the culture, economy and identity of the United States. To oblige this belief we plan to provide a national quota for immigrants, in order to further open our country to neighboring and distant countries. In addition we wish to increase the US’ capacity for foreign peoples seeking asylum, with the goal of providing a safe and welcoming space for as many refugees as our country can receive.
Space
The Federalist Party is intent upon using nuclear fission in order to reach Mars in a faster time than it would normally. Our goal is to create a future of exploration and discovery that is attainable and effective. We also wish to open up our program to collaboration from private companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic as well as foreign allies who share our drive for the future. By further exploring space, we may be able to gather a better understanding of the world around us and to help fight back against many problems throughout our world.
The American Legion 2022 Boys Nation Yearbook
Nationalist Party Officers
Convention Chairman Julian Hernandez IL
Convention Secretary Orian Van Buskirk OR
Convention Clerk Will Nelson ND
Convention Parliamentarian Ryan Cruse NC
Assistant Parliamentarian Grady Radtke MT
Sergeant-At-Arms Naod Fessawaye WI
Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms Jaden LaVecchia ID
Timer Aaron Liu VA
Timer Vikram Menon NE
Platform Committee Chairman Matthew Lynard MO
Platform Committee Secretary Warren Chen NH
Platform Committee Member Yajat Gupta PA
Platform Committee Member Brady White FL
Platform Committee Member Trex Jones AZ
Rules Committee Chairman Paul Balkan VT
Rules Committee Secretary Aaron Maniyatte DE
Rules Committee Member Owen Oppenheimer TX
Rules Committee Member Dillon Moss NV
Rules Committee Member Kyler Zhou NJ
Presidential Candidate Tamarus Darby Jr. MI
Vice Presidential Candidate Kshirai Talati SC
Party Chairman Kyler Zhau NJ
Party Keynoter Warren Chen NH
Campaign Manager Trex Jones AZ
Party Whip Matthew Lynard MD
Chaplain Jason Eappen GA
Nationalist Party Platform
Strengthening American Leadership Globally
• Addressing Tyrannical Foreign Nations
- Develop a web of integrated security alliances and partnerships with international countries by increasing cooperative military deployment exercises and the affirmation of bilateral treaties.
- Cooperation must be encouraged in the fields where China and the US share common interests, such as climate change.
- Consolidation of strategy among members of the free world, as opposed to the United States acting unilaterally.
- Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, etc.
- The United States condemns Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
• Transforming and mobilizing for a changing world.
- Participation in international efforts to combat international issues such as climate change and epidemics via outlets such as the UN are other ways to further the strength of the international, rules based order.
Fiscally Responsible Environmentalism
• Legalization for those of 21 years of age or older and taxation of Marijuana
- Support the Legalization of production and ingestion of marijuana, and the formation of a 15% tax on the sale of recreational marijuana and any products that are infused with it. Products with a THC concentration of 35% or above would receive an additional 10% tax, totaling 25%.
• Creating a fund for small farmers to aid them in innovating their farms
- To make the money from marijuana going to farmers change to a grant that small farms and ranches can get provided that the state chooses what the limit is on acreage, amount of livestock, how much money is going into that organization, and where the ranch is at.
• Preserving Farmland to help solve our ever growing food crisis
Energy Independence
• Balancing energy subsidies across the industry instead of concentrating them in coal, oil, and natural gas.
- Invest money to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) through the Department of Energy (DOE) to expand the programs of:
(1) Nuclear energy and waste disposal
(2) Solar energy
(3) Wind energy
Healthcare Reform
• Increased focus on Mental Health in Schools and VSOs by encouraging schools to have psychologists and social workers on staff.
• Providing resources for Public High Schools to provide condoms, as well as tampons to students in public schools.
- This would help decrease the rate of teenage pregnancy, and therefore the rate of teenage abortion.
• Reducing Prescription Drug Prices and cramping down on inflated drug prices:
- Capping the Price of insulin to $12.00 (and readjusted for inflation every proceeding year) Adjusting it to Canada’s
rate, the 2nd highest in the Western World, behind the US.
• Implementing required training to Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services to include consistent sexual education for all states, under the training of the NIH and research and development
• Increase spending on government healthcare programs to help lower the cost of medical care specifically for Americans under the poverty line
Civil Rights
• Support Codifying interracial marriage and same-sex marriage within federal precedent to guarantee marriage equality in the United States.
• Provide means for states to raise the income of Public Defenders
- Providing states with grants based on the state’s average income of private attorneys, so that states can raise the pay of public defenders and hire more of them in turn increasing the effectiveness of public defenders by reducing their level of exhaustion. This would be paid for via the creation of a new tax bracket and would be administered in tandem between the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice.
• Help rehabilitate and decriminalize, without fine, the record of those convicted of marijuana related offenses
- The revenue from the sales tax on Marijuana will provide a stipend for the rehabilitation program participants for those convicted of and incarcerated due to the possession or production of marijuana. Eligible individuals may apply to this program to get money that will aid them in directing their life in a positive direction. Said individuals would only be allowed to use
said funding for the purchase of groceries and gasoline. This would ensure that the money is being used on basic needs that will help these individuals get their life back on track.
• - Support the passage of pro-equality legislation, like the Equality Act and the Equal Rights Amendment
• - Changing drug policy to target drug dealers and to help victims of drug use. Provide focus on rehabilitation for these victims.
Gun Reform
• Background Checks
• Three day waiting period for purchasing firearms
• Creating a program that gives Veterans the opportunity to act as officers in school to respond to potential combat situations that would alleviate SROs of certain duties so they can focus more on their student development duties
- Senate bill 13
• Law enforcement gun use
- Support further training programs in both safety and sensitivity.
- Inclusion of mental health experts in law enforcement.
Governmental Reform
• Implementing term limits for senators, and members of the House of Representatives.
- This will work to keep fresh ideas in public policy and create a congress that more accurately represents the United States’ beliefs.
• Setting a cap for how much a single company can donate to any single PAC and/or superPAC for a federal office.
- This will help ensure elected officials are working for their constituents and not private companies, or lobbyists with specific interests. This is of great importance as over 22 million dollars were taken by members of congress from July 2021 to July 2022.
Education Reform
• Giving States specific education grants so that they can implement civic, financial literacy, and hands-on STEM education programs in their public schools.
- This is to more readily prepare students to be independent and competitive in the modern job market
• Regulating public universities so that they cannot raise their tuition by a higher percentage than that year’s annual inflation rate, so long as it operates within the consumer price index. Congress shall require universities to take money from their endowments to fully fund grants for the corresponding increase in need for students on financial aid.
- This implements a first step in making Post-secondary education more accessible to all Americans.
• Waiving Public School Teachers from paying federal income tax.
- This would help compensate teachers for their exorbitant workload, help curtail the teacher shortage in America, and help reduce Teacher burnout as many are forced to work a second job to make ends meet.
Immigration
• Support and Safeguard DACA in federal precedent by advocating for the DREAM act which would provide a legal pathway for Dreamers to citizenship.
• Invests funds to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to make the process of legally obtained green card more efficient through:
- Updated internet technologies
- Decrease price of green card from $1,760 to $1,500
Economy
• The institution of a new federal income tax bracket that would affect 44% of income over 10 Million dollars.
- This is necessary as the wealth gap in the United States has exceeded that of Pre-revolutionary France, CEOs made 254 times that of the average worker in 2021, and would use that exorbitant income to reinvest in American communities.
• The Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce Monitor Gas companies’ buyback of shares and if they determine these companies are buying back a significant amount of their shares, these departments will be given permission to strip these companies of any federal subsidies they’re receiving.
- This is as Gas and Oil companies are keeping gas prices inflated so they can buy back shares they sold as they were struggling during the pandemic. The subsidies would be given back once the gas companies have deflated the price of gas, within their realm of power.
• Giving grants to cities to construct public housing units explicitly for those under the federal poverty line.
- These individuals would be required to have a source of revenue in the form of employment, or those recognized by the government of the United States as disabled. The city would collect rent from these individuals at a rate that is lower than the 25th percentile of average rent
prices in that city. Once an individual has risen above and maintains a status of being above the poverty line for 2 months they will receive a month’s notice where they will have to look for permanent housing. Any city that applies for funding from this pool would have to discontinue any homeless greyhound/busing program they may have in place.
• Raise the Federal Poverty line to include the bottom 15% of Americans (currently induces roughly 11% of Americans) sop Americans near the bottom have access to programs to raise them into economic security
Senator State Bill/Res Bill/Res-Subject
Andriy Ovod WI Bill Suppress of the Russian Federation Act of 2022
Carter Kohli OH Bill A Cleaner Future Act
James Lewis NV Bill An Open Book; Library Services Guaranteed for All SB-43
Samuel Bohn OR Bill Debt Deterrence Act (A Co-Sponsored Act with Senator Weisman of Arizona, SB-5) SB-44
Cooper Weissman AZ Bill
Financial Literacy Course (A CoSponsored Act with Senator Bohn of Oregon, SB-44)
Noah Morros NJ Bill Independently Green Act
Warren Chen NH Bill Redesignated Appropriations from Infrastructure Law (RAILs) Act
Jack Chaney PA Bill Gas Prices, Production, and Mileage Per Gallon Act
Quinn-
Dalton Lewis OK Bill Train combat veterans to be used as defenders of our publicly funded schools.
