[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18975]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
         (HACU) NATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM'S 15TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2007

  Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of the 
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, HACU, National 
Internship Program in providing Hispanic students invaluable real world 
working experiences that have allowed these students to make more 
educated career choices.
  Over the past 15 years, the HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) 
has offered more than 6,500 meaningful paid internships with federal 
and corporate partners during spring, summer and fall sessions. HNIP 
has become the largest Hispanic college internship program in the 
United States.
  On July 26, 2007, the HACU National Internship Program will celebrate 
its 15th Anniversary at a Gala in Washington, DC. This gala will 
showcase the achievements of former and current interns as part of a 
summer-long itinerary of special events marking this remarkable 
program's first 15 years.
  We applaud HACU and the HACU National Internship Program for exposing 
these students to public- and private-sector career opportunities and 
specifically helping address the historic underrepresentation of 
Hispanics in the federal work force.
  The HACU National Internship program began in 1992 with 24 interns. 
In 2006 alone, the program provided internships to 616 college students 
in 22 federal agencies and nine private corporations.
  This competitive program selects top students from among HACU's 450 
member and partner colleges and universities, which collectively serve 
more than two-thirds of all Hispanic higher education students. HNIP 
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.
  The Office of Personnel Management, OPM, also recognizes the value of 
the HACU National Internship Program and has included it as a best 
practice in its fourth annual report on Hispanic Employment in the 
Federal Government.
  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. Yet, it is 
well documented that Hispanics remain the only underrepresented ethnic 
group in the Federal Government. Today, Hispanics represent 7.5 percent 
of the Federal workforce--5.1 percent below the current civilian labor 
employment level. With the help of HNIP we are lowering this gap and 
creating a pipeline of qualified Hispanics in the Federal workforce.
  We salute the HACU National Internship Program and applaud its 
success at opening the doors of opportunity for new generations of 
exceptional students while enhancing workforce diversity.

                          ____________________