[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 89 (Friday, June 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
                   (HACU) NATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2002

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus, I rise today to recognize the achievements of the Hispanic 
Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship 
Program and its federal and private-sector partners in providing 
Hispanic college students with invaluable real world working 
experiences that have allowed these students to make more educated 
career choices.
  Over the past ten years, the HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) 
has introduced more than 3,800 Hispanic college students to meaningful 
paid internships with federal and corporate partners during the spring, 
summer and fall. This has become the largest Hispanic college 
internship program in the United States.
  The HACU National Internship Program exposes these students to public 
and private sector career opportunities and specifically helps address 
the historic under-representation of Hispanics in the federal work 
force. Many former interns are now full-time federal employees and 
managers, proving that the program truly is making a difference.
  On July 10, 2002, the HACU National Internship Program will celebrate 
its 10th Anniversary at a ``Red, White y Azul--Investing in the 
American Dream,'' Gala in Washington, D.C. This gala will showcase the 
achievements of former and current interns as part of a summer-long 
series of special events marking this remarkable program's first 10 
years.
  The HACU National Internship program began in 1992 with 24 interns. 
In 2001 alone, the program provided paid 10- and 15-week internships to 
632 interns working at 19 federal agencies and five private 
corporations in Washington, D.C., and at locations throughout the 
United States. By the end of 2002, the program likely will set another 
record in the numbers of participating interns from throughout the 
country.
  This competitive program selects top students from among HACU's 318 
member and partner colleges and universities, which collectively serve 
more than two-thirds of all Hispanic students in higher education. This 
program provides meaningful work experiences to these students by 
matching their skills and career goals with the objectives of federal 
and corporate partners, enabling these students to make more informed 
career choices.
  Based on formal program evaluations from students and supervisors, 
the HACU National Internship Program boasts a proven track record in 
positively addressing the underrepresentation of Hispanics in the 
federal work force. Ninety-five percent of students surveyed in 2001 
rated their internship experience in the federal government as 
``excellent.'' More importantly, 73 percent of the 2001 summer students 
stated that they are interested in pursuing a career in federal 
service. Of those students, 82 percent said it was a direct result of 
their internship experience.
  Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that Hispanics remain the only under-
represented ethnic group in the federal government. As you know, 
Hispanics currently comprise 11.9 percent of the civilian labor force 
but only 6.7 percent of the permanent federal workforce. Recent reports 
also estimate that within the next five years, more that 50 percent of 
the current federal work force will become eligible to retire.
  As the youngest and now largest ethnic population, Hispanics already 
make up one of every three new workers in the overall workforce, and by 
2050 are projected to make up one of every two new workers. Thus, the 
HACU National Internship Program directly addresses both the historic 
under-representation of Hispanics in the federal labor force and the 
need to address the coming shortage of public service sector employees 
overall.
  In addition, this program fully supports White House Executive Order 
13171, which requests that federal agencies increase their outreach to 
the Latino community and support programs that help address the 
continuing under-representation of Hispanics in federal workforce 
ranks. The HACU National Internship Program is Point Four in the Office 
of Personnel Management Nine-Point Hispanic Employment Initiative as an 
effective, proven tool to recruit well-qualified Hispanics into the 
federal government.
  I salute those who have made the HACU National Internship Program a 
success. Their efforts will continue to open the doors to opportunity 
for new generations of exceptional students while enhancing the 
diversity of our workforce.

                          ____________________