[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 119 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE CHARLES B. RANGEL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 20, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to share with my colleagues the 
presence in the House of the participants in an important and exciting 
program today, The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program, and 
to welcome these extraordinary young people to their period of service 
in the Congress. The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship 
Program was initiated from my desire that the State Department's 
Diplomatic Corps abroad would reflect the rich diversity represented by 
the American people at home. The program presents young adults from 
diverse backgrounds the opportunity to learn, participate, and become a 
part of the United States' diplomatic corps.
  This program is a successful collaboration between the Congress, the 
State department, and Howard University, which administers the program 
with a cross-section of colleges and universities across the country. 
Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell introduced the program on May 
17, 2002 at a State Department ceremony and Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice has expressed her profound support for continuing and 
expanding this initiative.
  In the last 2 years, the components of the Rangel Program were 
reviewed and evaluated by the State Department and were found to 
satisfy the stringent requirement for inclusion in the Department's 
prestigious Diplomacy Fellows Program. This milestone achievement has 
included the program in the distinguished ranks of such programs as the 
Presidential Management Interns, the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science, and the Boren, Fascell, and Pickering Fellows 
Programs. As a result, fellows who successfully complete the Rangel 
Program and the State Department requirements will automatically 
receive employment offers and appointments to the Foreign Service.
  In addition, I would like to personally welcome the 2006 Charles B. 
Rangel Fellows to Capitol Hill. We currently have Jacob Choi, a 
graduate of Brigham Young University, who will attend Harvard's Kennedy 
School of Government in the Fall, serving Rep. Eliot Engel's office; 
Christopher Hartfield, a graduate of Stanford University, who will 
attend Tuft's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the Fall, serving 
in Rep. Adam B. Schiff's office; Teresa Williamson a graduate of 
Dillard University who will attend Yale University in the Fall, serving 
in Rep. Donald M. Payne's office; Sara Marti a graduate of the 
University of Central Florida who will attend the University of 
Denver's School of International Studies, serving in Rep. Jose E. 
Serrano's office; Chansonett Hall, a graduate of Penn State University, 
who will attend the University of Pittsburgh's School of Public and 
International Affairs serving in Rep. Gregory W. Meeks' office; Yehia 
Hanan, a graduate of Howard University, who will attend Georgetown 
University's School of Public Policy, serving in Sen. Joseph R. Biden's 
office; Marcus Jackson, a graduate of Florida A&M University who is 
serving in Rep. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega's office; Paloma Gonzalez, a 
graduate of Lewis and Clark College, who will attend Georgetown 
University's School of Foreign Service, serving in Rep. Barbara Lee's 
office; and Brandon Jackson, a graduate of Cornell University, who will 
also attend Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, serving 
in my office.

  I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. I have read each and every 
single one of your bios and I am extremely impressed with all of your 
diverse areas of study and accomplishments. I know your experience on 
the Hill will be an invaluable help to you in the Foreign Service.
  I also want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues and 
friends for the invaluable experiences that they are providing and for 
personally hosting a Rangel Fellow in their offices. The experiences to 
be obtained during their time in the House of Representatives will 
provide insight that is a special and unique part of this program. This 
Capitol Hill exposure and experience will be particularly useful as 
they enter the State Department as junior Foreign Service Officers. 
Thank you for the wonderful opportunities that you are providing this 
summer.
  I am extremely proud of this program and its contribution to the 
country. I believe that in America, diversity is our strength. With our 
Nation's growing international involvement, there could be no better 
time than now to attract the very best, the brightest, and the most 
diverse talent available to represent the American people and champion 
our interests in every comer of the globe.

                          ____________________