[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3179]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


         AN ATTRIBUTE TO INTERNATIONAL INTERN EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

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                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 3, 2015

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the different 
international internship programs that I have had the pleasure of 
experiencing this year. These programs represent a brilliant method of 
cultural and educational exchange not only for the bright young leaders 
of some of our closest partners but also for myself and many of my 
colleagues.
  Thus far, I have had the pleasure of having two Australian interns 
and one German intern within my office. They are the beneficiaries of 
different programs and have each had an unique and rewarding time here.
  Mr. Joshua Sprake is an Australian student studying a combined 
Bachelor of Commerce and Arts at the University of Sydney Business 
School. He is participating in an exchange program called the 
International Placement Program between his university and the 
University of California, District of Columbia. This allows him to 
study in the evenings and work during the day in our office. He has 
excelled in managing his different commitments and has been able to 
apply his skills to look outside of the box in many of the tasks that 
have been assigned to him. As a political science major he has also 
been able to provide useful and different perspectives to many 
different discussions within the office.
  Mr. Mathias Weber is a German intern who has come to us through the 
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals program. 
During this time Mathias has applied himself with German efficiency 
becoming well known for his diligence and precision. Mathias has shown 
why the German economy prides itself on its efficiency as our office 
could not have asked for more dedication in whatever task he was 
assigned.
  Mr. Samuel Edwards is our final Australian intern and has 
participated in the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program. Samuel 
is a student of the University of Canberra. Samuel has also shown 
himself to also be very intelligent and hard working. He easily slid 
into life at the office and was always available to help in any way he 
could whether that was answering phone calls from constituents or 
drafting office correspondence.
  Finally Mr. Speaker, I want to reflect upon how these programs will 
only strengthen and preserve the relationships our countries enjoy. As 
these future leaders grow and move on through their lives, I hope they 
look fondly back upon their time here and are able to take back some 
knowledge and American values with them, throughout their life.

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