Capitol Hill Intern Update (September 21, 2020)
This week, the nation remembers Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her extraordinary life and accomplishments. As Congress honors “the notorious RBG,” Members will also look ahead to the future composition of the Court and important decisions that will be made this week.
For those handling office phones this week, there will inevitably be a flood of constituent calls on the topic. You will be the front line, hearing from people with a range of emotions, ideas, and concerns. Get ready, friends — this is what you train for!
Welcome to new subscribers from Tufts, Georgetown, UC Riverside, American, William Paterson, University of Texas and University of Florida!
THIS WEEK ON THE FLOOR
The House will vote on a TON of suspension bills. Bills to be considered “under a rule” this week include:
- H.R. 4447 — Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act
Possible consideration of:
- H.R. 6210 — Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
- H.R. 6270 — Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act of 2020
The Senate will continue to consider judicial nominations.
If a deal is reached on a government funding bill, it may get a vote in both chamber.
THIS WEEK IN COMMITTEE
Check out the full list. Some proceedings of note:
- Tuesday: Diversity and Diplomacy: Assessing the State Department’s Record in Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in House Foreign Affairs at 2 PM (2172 Rayburn)
- Tuesday: Hearings to examine the economic impact of America’s failure to contain the Coronavirus in Joint Economic Committee at 2:30 PM
- Wednesday: Hearings to examine the nomination of Chad F. Wolf, of Virginia, to be Secretary of Homeland Security in Senate HSGAC at 10 AM (342 Dirksen)
- Wednesday: Hearings to examine COVID-19, focusing on an update on the federal response in Senate HELP at 10 AM (G-50 Dirksen)
- Wednesday: Revisiting the Need for Federal Data Privacy Legislation in Senate Finance at 10 AM (253 Russell)
- Wednesday: Health Care Lifeline: The Affordable Care Act and the COVID-19 Pandemic in House Energy and Commerce @ 10 AM
- Thursday: Threats to the Homeland in Senate HSGAC at 2 PM (342 Dirksen)
- Thursday: Diversity in America: The Representation of People of Color in the Media in House Judiciary at 2 PM (2141 Rayburn)
- Friday: Restaurants in America during the COVID-19 Pandemic in House Ways and Means at 9 AM
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
- Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose for several days at the US Supreme Court and then will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol
- President Trump has plans to announce a new nomination this week and has said it “will be a woman”
- Everyone will be watching these senators
Get ready for it
Of Interest
- If you got assigned an old laptop with no camera you need this: how to turn your phone into a webcam
- Plans for physical return to campus “failed to take into account that kids… might continue to party”
- Senate hearing may signal bipartisan agreement on a simplified FAFSA
- FCC announces new “ Early Career Staff Diversity Initiative” — including PAID internships! (APPLY)
Washington reopening (bit by bit)
From TourTrackr:
The Smithsonian reopened four more museums to the public on Friday, Sep. 18 with new coronavirus prevention measures — reduced hours of operation + timed-entry passes.
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture
- The National Portrait Gallery
- The Smithsonian American Art Museum
- The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian reopened three other locations in July:
- The National Zoo
- The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly
- The Smithsonian gardens
Introducing: the Eisenhower Memorial
Our newest memorial opened last week to honor Dwight D. Eisenhower. “Two giant columns on either side of Maryland Avenue in Washington flank the memorial. One denotes Eisenhower’s accomplishments as president and the other represents his achievements leading the Allied forces in WWII.”
https://eisenhowermemorial.gov/
mark your calendars:
Oct 1: Congressional Intern Trivia Night
Join your colleagues around Capitol Hill and across the country to test your knowledge! REGISTER
Sept. 23: Imposter Syndrome — Mock-interview
In this virtual event, Jay Cho, Manager of Federal Government Relations at Verizon, Samantha Mori, Research Specialist for C2C and C2C’s Program Director, Kasie Clark will cover what imposter syndrome is, how it may affect your internship in Congress, and lead an interactive mock-interview practice session. REGISTER
From our partners:
New “Representative Democracy” coalition announced
Former Congressional staffer (and intern!), Laura Maristany, explains her journey from Capitol Hill to helping Democracy Fund build and launch a new coalition “to build a Congress that looks like America.”
“I became fully aware that the obstacles I faced in Congress were not personal shortcomings or lack of skills. These barriers to entry and advancement were part of a system of hiring that made it difficult for others like me with no personal political connections, no financial resources to supplement earnings in low or non-paid Hill positions, and no “godparents” to navigate the byzantine maze of career development on Capitol Hill. As a Latina, I saw few walking the halls of the Capitol that looked like me. As a conservative Latina, there were even fewer.”
Laura lists four leadership lessons for Congress.
Representative Democracy understands that a diverse and inclusive Congressional workplace brings multifaceted perspectives to policymaking that better meets the needs and experiences of all Americans.
READ MORE >>
Events This Week
SEP 21 — SEP 24
New America Future Security Forum 2020: Reimagining National Security in the Age of COVID-19 (Register)
SEP 21
12 PM — 1 PM: CATO Institute — Supreme Disorder: Judicial Nominations and the Politics of America’s Highest Court (Register)
SEP 21
12 PM — 1 PM: Putting Yourself First: Women’s Resources for Pandemic Recovery and Financial Wellness — Bipartisan Policy Center with Yahoo Finance and Funding Our Future Campaign
SEP 22
9 AM — 10 AM: What Reforms Does the US Financial System Need?
Peterson Institute for International Economics
SEP 22
2 PM — 4 PM: How to make real-time payments real now
Brookings Institution
SEP 23
10 AM — 11 AM: How AI Can Help People Back to Work
Information Technology & Innovation Foundation
SEP 23
10 AM — 5 PM Fall BPEA 2020: COVID-19 and the Economy (Register) — Brookings
SEP 24
12 PM — 1 PML Supreme Court Preview of the 2020–2021 Term (Register) — The Heritage Foundation
SEP 24
6 PM — 7 PM: Graduate School of Political Management MasterClass with Ivan Zapien (Register)
George Washington University School of Political Management
SEP 25
10 AM — 11 AM: The Future of Defense Task Force’s final report: Reviewing the nation’s defense assets and capabilities (Register)
+ Many more events at Hill Happenings
Contributors
This newsletter is brought to you by these organizations. We know today’s interns are tomorrow’s Congressional staffers. And we want you to have a great experience — no matter where the internship happens!
Congressional Management Foundation
Modernization Staff Association
