[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2010]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR OF THE UNI-CAPITOL WASHINGTON INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 12, 2008

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Uni-Capitol 
Washington Internship Program. This program is a wonderful educational 
experience for both the intern who works in a congressional office, and 
for the office who receives an intern from the program. The program 
annually delivers some of Australia's best and brightest university 
students who have a passion for and commitment to civic engagement and 
public service to congressional offices for 2-month internships.
  The Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program began in 2000 and since 
its inception, I have been a proud participant. This year I welcomed a 
wonderful student-ambassador to my office, Stephanie Lyons, who has 
shared with us her experiences as a newcomer to Washington from the 
perspective of an Australian. Stephanie, who visits us from the 
University of Canberra, is a great example of the high quality students 
who are involved in this program. With a bachelor's degree in 
communication, specializing in public relations and political 
communication, Stephanie will this year commence her honors degree, 
drawing upon her experiences here in Washington as a research stimulus. 
Throughout her time in this office, she has had the chance to pursue 
her interests in the media and a range of issues, from foreign affairs, 
human rights, and diplomacy to science and the environment.
  Over the past month, she has been an invaluable asset to this office. 
She has attended committee briefings, drafted constituent 
correspondence, and assisted my staff with research. Her Australian 
accent has garnered the attention of many of my constituents on tours 
and over the phone. She is often asked to share her experiences in 
Washington, DC.
  Stephanie is one of several outstanding Australian interns. This 
year, a record 13 students from across Australia were matched with 
congressional offices. They were drawn from seven Australian 
universities in four different states and the Australian Capital 
Territory. The Uni-Capitol program gives its students practical 
experience and allows them to gain knowledge and understanding of the 
internal workings of the United States Government.
  Including this current group, 81 Australian students will have 
interned in Washington since the program's inception 9 years ago. For 
creating the Uni-Washington program, credit must be given to its 
founder, Eric Federing. Eric is a former senior House and Senate 
congressional staffer who has worked to foster the exchange of ideas 
and knowledge between the U.S. and Australia through his efforts with 
the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to seek 
international connections by participating in this rewarding program. 
It is truly heartening to see how much this program has grown over the 
years, and I look forward to its continued success. I ask my colleagues 
to join with me in recognizing the contributions of the Uni-Capitol 
Internship Program and, again, thank Stephanie Lyons for her 
participation and hard work.

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