Intern Blog

Each week the interns in my Washington, DC, office share some of their thoughts, experiences and impressions about their internship. On this page, you will find entries from the interns who are working in my office in the current semester.  To read entries from previous semesters, please visit the Intern Blog Archives.

November 18, 2009

My little brother came to visit this week. We went and saw all of the tourist sights. My brother wanted to see everything, so we saw the sights like a tourist. When you live here in DC you kind of get used to seeing all the sights at a slow, when you get around to it pace. Our whole days were scheduled with visits to museum after museum. I’ve decided that this is the best way to see DC. We ended up seeing a lot and having a good time.

Matt, Pocatello, Idaho State University.

November 18, 2009

I have had the opportunity to view and observe a number of great things these past couple weeks. Last week I had the opportunity to attend an afternoon breakout session of the Middle East Institute’s 63rd annual conference at the National Press Club. The session I attended was about the Arab-Israeli peace process and the domestic and political obstacles that it faced. The panel contained four area experts all with a different view and direction they believed the situation should take. It was nice to attend something that was off the “Hill,” and hear something that wasn’t quite as directly oriented toward U.S. politics as many of the Senate hearings I have attended have been. DC really has provided me with so countless opportunities for learning about a vast amount of things.

I also was able to attend another Foreign Relations hearing yesterday concerning the  United States and the G-20, specifically addressing the remaking of the international economic structure and how that in turn relates to foreign affairs. The Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, was a witness at the hearing and it was the first time in twenty years that a Secretary of the Treasury came before the Foreign Relations Committee to testify. Having the chance to attend various hearings and conferences has really helped me expand my viewpoint and learn more about the world around me.

Whitney, American Falls, Idaho State University.

November 3, 2009

I’m really starting to enjoy answering the phones. There are some people out there who call and are so angry. A couple of weeks ago I realized I knew what people were talking about, and I knew how to answer their questions.

Also today senator Crapo asked for unanimous consent to grant me floor privileges. Now I am allowed on the senate floor. Katie the legislative assistant in charge of health care has asked me to help out when the healthcare bill goes to the floor. It’s pretty exciting.

Matt, Pocatello, Idaho State University.

 

October 28, 2009

Things on the “Hill” seem to have slowed down a bit, as I am getting more and more used to the daily routine.  I am constantly amazed by the amount of varied topics that are consistently being discussed throughout Congress. Last Friday, Mandi scheduled the interns a sweet tour of the Library of Congress. I really had never seen the inside of it before in that much depth and it was fascinating to learn all of the remarkable facts about its history. The building itself and the artwork throughout really are quite outstanding and amazing! The LOC is one of DC’s hidden treasures that is definitely worth taking your time to visit.

I also had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the simple life this past weekend as I visited Lancaster County-where many Amish live. The farm land reminded me a lot of being back home in Idaho, except for the fact that instead of seeing tractors and lifted pick-ups, I saw horse pulled buggies and horse drawn farm equipment. My friends and I took a buggy ride into the more country part of the region and it was interesting to talk to our Amish driver and hear his perspective and learn more about his way of life. It really is quite fascinating to me to be able to learn more about different people and the beliefs that they have. We finished off our Amish experience by eating at a great Amish owned restaurant which had some pretty amazing country-style cooking. The East Coast and all of the variety that it offers from the sites of the big cities to the calm, peaceful farmland, never cease to astonish me. 

Whitney, American Falls, Idaho State University.

 

October 26, 2009

I really like living in a big city. I reference everything based on its relationship to the metro station. In my head I have an image of the metro map and that is how Washington DC looks to me. This has led me to have a surreal experience this last weekend. From the Capitol building, you can see a large number of tall building to the south west. I never really knew what these buildings were until Saturday. I was riding in a car driving from DC towards those large buildings. We took a freeway exit straight into those tall buildings. It turns out that these tall buildings were, in fact, the neighborhood where I live. It was a strange sensation realizing this was my neighborhood.

Matt, Pocatello, Idaho State University.

October 23, 2009

One of the nicest things about D.C. is its central location to so many interesting places.  Over the past couple of weeks I have been lucky enough to take day trips to Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Harpers Ferry, and Valley Forge.  Each place was amazing and had something different to offer. In Philadelphia my friends and I visited Independence Hall, saw the Liberty Bell, and sampled some of the city’s best cheesesteak. Valley Forge is a short drive from Philly and it was interesting to see where George Washington and his troops camped during the Revolutionary War. The landscape here was stunning and covered with many color changing trees. We were able to walk through the woods and throughout the course of our visit we saw around 100 deer. Gettysburg was also very beautiful and it was neat to be able to see some Civil War reenactments while we were there. On our way back from Gettysburg, we stumbled upon the last day of the National Apple Harvest Festival-and it is something that I definitely will come back to. There was delicious apple cider, applesauce, pumpkin funnel cake, pretzels, and even some fried Oreos to savor! The drive to and from Gettysburg was very striking.  Through visiting these places, I have been able to develop a greater appreciation for the history of United States as I have seen and experienced the atmosphere where so many important things occurred.

Whitney, American Falls, Idaho State University.

October 15, 2009

Working on Capitol Hill is a fun experience. I find myself walking down halls alongside Senators. Most of the time I’m fine, but there are times when I catch myself starstruck and staring. I feel embarrassed when this happens, but it makes me laugh.

I get to give the tours. I give at least two a week. Before the tours start, I ask if anyone has anything that is not allowed in the Capitol building. Normally if people have food or water bottles, they will leave them in the office. I recently had a tour where a girl had a small mace canister on her key chain. She had forgotten that she had it. They found it at the metal detectors in the Senate Gallery. They let me take the tour into the gallery and then I left the capital with the mace.

It's getting much colder here in Washington, DC. When I first got here, I was amazed by how hot it was. Now I'm amazed at how cold it's gotten. It has gotten cold fast.

Matt, Pocatello, Idaho State University.

October 15, 2009

Working in the press shop has given me a new insight on the important role that the media plays in the world of politics. The media really is the means by which any politician is able to communicate his or her message to the public and to their constituents, especially while they are away in Washington, DC.  On Tuesday, I had the opportunity of going and watching Senator Crapo be interviewed for Fox Business News in the Russell Senate Building Rotunda.  It was neat to be able to see the whole process of an interview from start to finish.

Also, over the past couple of weeks I have had the opportunity to attend some pretty interesting Foreign Relations hearings. I was able to attend a hearing to examine violence against women, focusing on its global costs and consequences. This was the first large scale hearing on this subject that a Senate committee had ever heard. It was interesting to hear the stories and the facts of how much of a difference the way women are treated makes in the success of a society. I also was able to attend another hearing about the role U.S. international broadcasting plays in advancing U.S. interests in Afghanistan and Iraq. Attending these hearings has reaffirmed the fact in my mind of the important and critical role that the U.S. plays in our world. These topics discussed in these hearings and the policy that stems from them will not only affect the U.S. but the entire world. 

Whitney, American Falls, Idaho State University.

October 13, 2009

I think I have finally adjusted to the East Coast Time Zone! I spent my whole life in the Pacific Time Zone, so it has taken me a long time to adjust physically and mentally.  I am so used to being three hours behind the East Coast!  My mom came out to visit the other week, which turned out to be great.  I was able to act like I knew what I was doing when I toured her around Capitol Hill.  We got to experience some of the good food around town and now my task for the next month, in my free time of course, is to find more great food in the neighborhoods around the capitol.  I hear “Ben’s Chili Bowl” is something to try out…I will let you all know. 

On a work-related note, I have keep my interest in economics and finance alive by attending various meetings involving the Senate Finance Committee as well as meetings where the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, speaks in either the House or the Senate side of the Capitol.  I hope to one day put my degree in Economics to good use!  Stay tuned for more adventures from "The Hill".

Bret, Marin County, University of Oregon.

October 9, 2009

I had the opportunity this week to attend my first Supreme Court hearing. One of my friends and I arose early,  and arrived at the steps of the Supreme Court building at 6am. We went that early in hopes of securing a  audience spot at the 10am hearing of the controversial  establishment clause suit of Salazar v. Buono. Public seating is limited and therefore it is on a first come first serve basis. The court hands out "line holding" orange tickets to the first 75 people in line, these tickets do not guarantee you a seat at the hearing but rather hold your spot in line for about an hour, until it is time to line up again. I was lucky ticket holder 73. But, because of the controversial nature of the first case being presented, there weren't as many open public seats open, so only those with tickets 1-45 were able to go in and watch the case.

The Supreme Court holds back-to-back hearings, so we simply stayed in line and were able to get in to hear the 11 o’clock case. The case we heard was Reed Elsevier v. Muchnick. It was a case concerning whether federal courts have subject matter jurisdiction over copyright infringement actions. Listening to it was very fascinating because I was able to see the concepts and cases that I learned in my Constitutional and Business Law classes being applied right before my eyes.  It was very interesting to watch the Justices question the attorneys and see how harsh and to the point they were. Overall it was an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I hope that I'll be able to make it to another case sometime this semester.

Whitney, American Falls, Idaho State University.

October 1, 2009

There have been a number of calls these last few weeks from people concerned about the Baucus health care bill. Since Senator Crapo is a member of the Finance committee, which is marking up the bill, this office has been getting calls from across the nation. These calls vary in topic, mostly they are concerning amendments coming up that day or the next day. These calls can last as little as a few seconds to as long as a few minutes. More often then not though, they seem to last a few minutes. I find it fascinating what people are concerned about, and that they feel strongly enough to call in and voice those concerns.

I was curious where people were calling from, so I started to Google their area codes. Then I started to keep track of which states were calling the most. This led into us googling a bingo sheet, where we filled the spaces in with states names. And call-in bingo was born.

Matt, Pocatello, Idaho State University.

 

October 1, 2009

It's amazing how life can fly by sometimes, and the past month I've been here seems to have gone at light speed! The health care legislation has made things pretty crazy here on "The Hill." There definitely is a lot of excitement everywhere you look, because history really is in the making. By watching this process, I am becoming more aware of how a Senator's office functions as a team where everyone is an important member, and no matter what your job is-it matters! I also am greatly impressed daily with how many Idahoans call in to voice their concerns, opinions, or support. Public participation truly is key to the whole political process. By watching the Finance Committee mark up the health care reform bill, I am realizing how much time and effort is put into making an idea become a law.

I was able to see the Dodgers play the Nationals last week, and, to no one's surprise, the Dodgers won!! I've also recently discovered many of the fabulous running and biking trails that are along the Potomac. One of my friends and I spend Saturday mornings running through, and exploring different areas of the city. It is a quick and healthy way to get a feel for the city and all that it has to offer.  Two of my best friends from Idaho came to visit for the weekend, so I was able to show and explore D.C with them. I had a great time seeing Eastern Market, Georgetown, Alexandria, Arlington, the Capitol and many of the memorials with them!

Whitney, American Falls, Idaho State University.

 

September 24, 2009

Business on the hill had been getting more intense.  Senator Crapo, as some of you may already know from watching CSPAN, has been working on the healthcare bill non-stop with his fellow committee members.  The mode around the office has been face paced and focused toward healthcare, but still seems fun in a weird way.  Folks here in the office like to pause and watch Senator Crapo in action when we catch him speaking in his various committees…It’s rewarding and comforting to see the Senator on TV.

As for me, I will be once again roam around DC getting my full exposure before I venture out even further.  There’s too much to see on and around Capitol Hill.  Today, Sept. 25, is a little overcast with a hint of rain, but that will not stop me from grabbing a good cheese burger with fries!  I am looking forward to many more adventures with the staff outside the office and will keep all the people in internet land posted. 

Bret, Marin County, University of Oregon.

September 21, 2009

This last week was great! On my free time I was able to get out, walk around the city and venture into more of the museums.  Our office also hosted a “Thursday Luncheon” in the US Capitol; it was filed to the brim with Idaho potatoes sent specially from our Boise office, thanks guys, for all the attendees.  Even then, during the down time before the luncheon, we were able to snoop around the building and see more of the amazing artwork.  I love it here more and more! Soon some of the other interns and I will plan more trips around D.C. and maybe even to the other surrounding cities.  I hope to get up to New York and possibly Boston before my time is up here.   I am soaking up so much history and information that I will always remember my time here in Washington D.C.

Bret, Marin County, University of Oregon.

September 16, 2009

It’s hard to believe that I am already onto my third week of being here! Time really has been flying by! I have been able to experience and see a lot this past week. Today, I had the opportunity to attend a hearing for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The topic was "Countering the Threat of Failure in Afghanistan." I was absolutely fascinated the entire hearing, and it was interesting to see how the committee functioned. The Senators on the committee would come in and out as they pleased, and many would simply leave after they had their opportunity to ask their seven minutes worth of questions. The hearing took a brief recess so the Senators could leave and go vote on the floor. There were three experts on issues regarding Afghanistan, who represented three different perspectives on what should be implemented in regard to policy in Afghanistan. There were also about twenty members of the Afghani Parliament in the audience, who were listening intently to what the Senators and panelists had to say.  I have briefly studied the conflict in Afghanistan so I enjoyed hearing about the different solutions, perspectives, and concerns that the Senators as well as panelists had.

One of my favorite things to do in D.C. is to go and visit the memorials at night. They aren't as crowded, and they have a whole other aura that surrounds them in the dark of night. Every time I walk through the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, etc. memorials I am reminded of the greatness of our nation, and how one individual can really make a difference in society. This weekend I also went with a group of my friends to an event at the National’s stadium called “Opera in the Outfield.”  It is a free, public event where an opera is telecast from the Kennedy Center onto the large screen at the stadium. The opera shown was the Barber of Seville and it was excellent! It is something that I would definitely recommend doing if you are in D.C. in the fall.

Whitney, American Falls, Idaho State University.

September 11, 2009

My name is Bret. I am one of the three interns this fall semester in Senator Crapo's Washington, DC, office.  I was born and raised in Marin County, California, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.  I graduated this last spring from the University of Oregon and have taken my scholastic interests and degree in economics to DC…a new place to me…3,000 miles from home.  I have never been west of the Rocky Mountains, sorry John Denver, before my adventures here as an intern, but I seem to have adapted to my surroundings quite well. 

The staff here is great.  They all seem to get along quite well and are all very open and loving people.  Today is an overcast and rainy day, but that will not stop me from exploring more of the city I have yet seen!  I figure I will find a good restaurant and have a good meal tonight to celebrate making it through two weeks on the hill.  Even through working in Senator Crapo’s office seems to be more fun than work.  Check back later for more…

Bret, Marin County, University of Oregon.

September 9, 2009

I have been in D.C. for a little less than two weeks now and so far the time has flown by! The city, atmosphere, and people never cease to amaze me. I’m blessed to be able to see the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court Building, and the Capitol building as I walk to work each morning. Living in D.C. is dramatically different than the small town Idaho life I’m used to, but I love every minute of it!

 I’ve been interning for a little over a week now, and so far I have really enjoyed it. When I arrived Congress was in recess so everyone was a bit more laid back, the atmosphere was causal, and well, things were kind of slow. Now that Senate is back in session, things have really started to pick up. The energy and excitement that is present throughout the building is great!  

As an intern, I work in the press shop. One of my main duties is to complete the daily news briefs. This is a project that I enjoy because it helps me stay up to date and informed on what is happening in the great state of Idaho. I also have been getting my fair share of practice answering the phone. Many Idahoans call and voice their concerns to Senator Crapo about a variety of issues. It’s great to see that so many citizens believe and can see that by voicing their opinion and concerns that they can make a difference.  

A week ago I had opportunity of attending a BBQ with Peter at the National Republican Senatorial Committee building. All the Chief of Staffs of the Republican Senators were present, as well as several lobbyists. Growing up, and through my studies, I have grown to have a natural dislike for lobbyists. After this outing I realized that all of my past negative conceptions were wrong.  The lobbyists I met that afternoon were not scheming individuals out to make millions; rather, they were genuinely good people, just like you and me. The NRSC works to help fundraise for Republican Senators throughout the year this event served that purpose. Attending this event with Peter really opened my eyes to a whole new side of the political process, and how much work and effort it takes on a year round basis to be an effective politician and representative of the Idaho people. 

Whitney, American Falls, Idaho State University.

September 8, 2009

Hello all, this being my first blog as an intern, (first blog ever as well,) I thought that I’d introduce myself. My name is Matt, and I am from Pocatello. I recently graduated with a BA in American Studies, from Idaho State University. I thought an internship in Washington DC would be a great experience, so here I am. I am fascinated with the political process, and am looking forward to see more of that process in action.

I have been in DC for almost two weeks now and every day find myself taken back by this town. Every block of this city seems to have a monument or marker of some historical event. I have already spent a number of afternoons in museums and memorials. This city has by far exceeded my expectations.

My assignments as an intern include meeting people as first come into the office. I also answer the phones in the front office. I feel that this is a good fit because you never know what to expect, and I enjoy that. So far I’ve spoken to a wide range of people; from those looking for different staff members, to constituents from Idaho wanting to share their opinions with the senator. I haven’t had the opportunity to work on some legislative issues yet, but I am told that I will at some time.

An opportunity that I am looking forward to as an intern is to give tours of the capital building. You could spend a lifetime walking through the halls of the capital and still not see all that is there. There is so much there to see and experience. I find myself in awe every time I am there.

Matt, Pocatello, Idaho State University.

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10/20/2006 - Monuments

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know if you want to see the monuments in DC but don't want to walk everywhere the tour-trolley is a great way to go. They drop you off at the major sites and you walk around the site taking as much or as little time as you want. When you get tired of an area just hop on a trolley and go to the next area, they cover the mall and Arlington National Cemetery. more...

- AH-Rexburg-BYU-Idaho

10/07/2006 - DC Sports

Not really something to blog about, but I wanted to let everyone know that sports are a great way to relax and enjoy the city. I went to a soccer game, DC United vs. New England Revolution and had a blast. I am anxious for the hockey season to start so I can go to a Caps game.more...

- AH-Rexburg_BYU-Idaho

09/22/2006 - First Post

Three weeks have past since I have started here and I have learned more than I usually learn in a semester at school. The experiences that I have had so far are great. The staff here has given me the opportunity to give tours of the U.S. Capitol building, research topics, draft letters, and attend committee meetings, judiciary hearings, receptions, etc. It has been a great experience that many people should take advantage of.

- AH-Rexburg-BYU-Idaho

09/01/2006 - First Day

I feel that I should preface this blog entry with my current location. As I type, I'm currently sitting under moonlight in front of the Lincoln memorial with a strip of dark water, the Washington Monument and the Capitol staring back at me. Seemingly within arms reach due to their sheer size, it's hard to keep my eyes on the screen. If you do happen to make it out to the DC area, or anywhere near it for that matter, this is a sight you absolutely cannot miss. more...

- AW-Boise-Boise State

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