[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 22, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1932-S1933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING THE ARCHER CENTER

  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, today I rise to honor a program 
that has helped shape generations of Texans who come to Washington not 
simply to observe public service, but to participate. This year marks 
the 25th anniversary of the Archer Fellowship Program and the Archer 
Center in Washington, DC. Founded in 2001 by Congressman Bill Archer 
and his longtime chief of staff Don Carlson, the Archer Center is 
``where Texas meets the world'' and provides talented students from 
across the University of Texas System the chance to live, learn, and 
intern in the Nation's Capital.

[[Page S1933]]

  The Archer Center's mission is to educate the next generation of 
leaders and promote civic engagement, civil discourse, and public 
service. These foundational principles have united our country for 250 
years, and it is essential now more than ever to instill them in our 
students. Archer Fellows engage in full-time internships aligned with 
their goals while participating in coursework that connects their daily 
experiences to the larger policy process, giving students the 
opportunity to fully grasp the day-to-day realities of working in 
public policy.
  Over the past quarter-century, the Archer Center has cultivated a 
network of more than 2,000 alumni who now serve in a wide range of 
roles and impact various communities. Many students intern in Texas 
congressional offices, including my own, and consistently reflect the 
Archer Center's values of professionalism, curiosity, and respect in 
their hard work.
  I am proud to note that a former member of my staff serves as the 
Archer Center's longtime executive director and has been a driving 
force behind its success over the past 20 years. Katie Romano served as 
a communications intern during my 2002 U.S. Senate campaign before 
joining my Washington, DC, office as constituent relations coordinator 
in 2003. She then went on to work for Mrs. Laura Bush and the First 
Family during the 2004 election and contributed to the 55th 
Presidential Inaugural Committee before joining the Archer Center staff 
in 2006. Her positive contributions to the Archer Center are evident, 
and I am proud of the impact she continues to have on our fellow 
Texans.
  Preparing young people for public service is not a task to be taken 
for granted. Institutions must be willing to invest in mentorship and 
create an environment where students learn how to engage in 
disagreement without losing respect for one another. That is exactly 
the kind of preparation the Archer Center seeks to provide, and it is 
why this milestone deserves recognition.
  So today I want to commend the Archer Center's students, alumni, 
faculty, and staff, and recognize those who teach, mentor, and support 
the program. Congratulations to the Archer Center on 25 years of 
service to Texas and to our country. Thank you for helping students 
from across the UT System come to Washington to chart a lifetime of 
service to our Nation and the great State of Texas.

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