[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3343]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING THE UNI-CAPITOL WASHINGTON INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 2008

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program. Since the inception of the 
Uni-Captiol program, I have participated in this relationship building 
program that brings some of Australia's best and brightest future 
leaders to Washington. I have benefited greatly by the work of unique 
and talented individuals that produced top-notch work to both of my 
offices. In my personal office I have participated in the Uni-Captiol 
Washington Internship Program for the last nine years. This is the 
first year that I have also hosted an intern at the Commission on 
Security and Cooperation in Europe in my capacity as Chairman.
  I have been pleased to host two amazing young women, Siobhan Coughlan 
and Katrina Mae.
  Siobhan Coughlan, who is in her third year at the University of 
Queensland, first arrived in the Helsinki Commission's office on 
January 3, 2008, and since then has provided able, thorough, and 
important assistance to the professional staff of the Commission. Over 
the past two months with the Commission, Siobhan has demonstrated her 
honorable personal character and integrity in the way she confronted 
the topic of human rights and democratic principles and the manner in 
which she interacted with staff on economic development and tolerance 
issues in a domestic and international context. Siobhan has served our 
organization in a number of capacities, and at each stage has proven to 
be valuable because of her professionalism, her drive to succeed, and 
her ability to work well within a group dynamic. Siobhan always 
demonstrated the highest level of conscience in keeping the 
respectability of our program as she sought to achieve our common 
goals. Siobhan brought her courteous and positive demeanor to hearings, 
briefings and events that the Commission held and events she attended 
on behalf of the staff here at the Commission. Much as been gained by 
having an international student at our side and Siobhan has greatly 
contributed her experiences, ideas, and thoughts that are shared by our 
good Australian friends across the water. I am delighted that she's 
able to extend her internship for another two months.
  In her short time here, Katrina Mae has become an indispensable asset 
to my office. An undergraduate law student at the University of 
Wollongong, Katrina came to my office with an ardent interest in civil 
rights and a desire to work with individuals who support policies that 
encourage tolerance and cooperation across racial and cultural lines. 
Over the course of her two months, she has attended hearings and 
briefings on a myriad of policy issues, drafted countless constituent 
correspondence, assisted visitors and callers in her always patient and 
thoughtful manner, and helped several staffers with legislative 
research and special projects. While her professional skills and 
academic credentials are certainly impressive, Katrina is also an 
absolute pleasure to work with. No matter the assignment, she is always 
eager to help and approaches every new task with a smile. The anecdotes 
of her adventures as a first-time visitor to the United States were a 
constant source of entertainment, and her tales of life in Australia 
gave our office a greater understanding of her country's rich history, 
culture, and values. Katrina arrived on Capitol Hill hoping to acquire 
a better understanding of the U.S. legislative process, and it is my 
sincere hope that she benefited as much from this experience as we did 
from having her with us.
  Madam Speaker, in addition to Siobhan and Katrina, I am delighted to 
recognize our colleagues here in the House and other colleagues in the 
Senate who have been congressional hosts in 2008:
  James Paterson of Melbourne University, interning with Rep. Lincoln 
Diaz-Balart; Monique Salm of Griffith University, interning with Sen. 
Chuck Hagel; Madelene Fox of Deakin University, interning with Rep. 
Jerrold Nadler; Lucas Robson of Melbourne University, interning with 
Sen. Christopher Dodd; Clare Anderson of Griffith University, interning 
with Rep. John Tierney, Stephanie Lyons of the University of Canberra, 
interning with Rep. Sam Farr; Suzanne Allan of the University of 
Canberra, interning with Sen. Mike Crapo; Katrina Mae of the University 
of Wollongong, interning with Rep. Alcee Hastings; Stella Rieusset of 
Melbourne University, interning with Rep. Mike Castle; Anthony Bremner 
of the University of Queensland, interning with Rep. James Clyburn and 
the Majority Whip's office; Tim Goyder of the University of Western 
Australia, interning with Del. Eni Faleomavaega; and Ally Foat from the 
University of Queensland, interning with Rep. James Clyburn.
  Let it not go unnoticed the hard work that goes into the Uni-Capitol 
Internship Program is done by founder Eric Federing. Eric is a former 
senior House and Senate staffer of a dozen years, who successfully 
combined his experience in Washington with his extensive travels and 
lectures throughout Australia into an ingenious program of diplomatic 
exchange through cultural appreciation and understanding. I have said 
in the past that I heartily congratulate him on making his vision a 
reality. This program is a step in the right direction of supporting 
our young people who have a passion for and commitment to civic 
engagement and public service.
  Over the last nine years, my staff and I have greatly benefited from 
the relationships that have been made from the result of this program 
as it continues to provide all of us an extraordinary experience with 
our friends on the other side of the ocean. It has been a great 
privilege to host Siobhan and Katrina and I ask all my colleagues to 
extend their open arms to the Uni-Captiol Internship Program and to our 
Australian friends in the future.

                          ____________________