Q: How can young Iowans get a first-hand look at Washington, D.C.?
A: There are many opportunities, especially for high school students, to get a first-hand look at the federal government including Congress. Some Iowa schools organize trips led by government and history teachers. Groups such as 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and community and religious organization youth groups also sponsor trips for teenagers to visit the national’s capital.
In addition, there are many educational programs based in Washington, D.C., for individual students to apply for an opportunity to spend up to a week in Washington. These programs expose students to the workings of the three branches of government through meetings, speakers and tours. I’ve become familiar with many of these groups through meetings with Iowa students who are participating in the programs. I make it a priority to sit down with these students and usually meet with at least one group of young Iowans every week that the Senate is in session and I’m working in Washington. Last year, for example, I met with more than 50 groups of Iowa students. Most of them were on Capitol Hill with an educational program (there’s a list below for more information).
Other students traveled with their families or schools to see Washington, D.C. It’s wonderful to see enthusiasm and energy among high school students for learning more about how our government works and the foundations of America’s democracy. I appreciate and encourage their commitment to participating in the process of representative government.
Close Up Program -- http://www.closeup.org
Lead America National Leadership Summit -- http://www.lead-america.org
Washington Workshops Congressional Seminar -- http://www.workshops.org/New%20Congressional/index3.html
National Youth Science Camp -- http://www.nysc.org/w/Welcome.html
National Young Leaders Conference/Congressional Youth Leadership Council -- http://www.cylc.org/nylc
Senate Youth Program -- http://www.ussenateyouth.org
American Legion Auxiliary Boys Nation -- http://www.legion.org/boysnation
American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation -- http://girlsnation-auxiliary.com/aboutGirlsNation.asp
National Peace Essay Contest -- http://www.usip.org/npec
President’s Environmental Youth Award -- http://www.epa.gov/peya
Presidential Scholar Program -- http://www.presidentialscholars.org
Q: Can young people work for members of Congress?
A: Along with most other senators and members of the Iowa congressional delegation, I offer internships for college students and recent graduates to work in my office in Washington, D.C., and in six offices located in Iowa. Interns assist staff members in the legislative, administrative and communication departments, as well as my staff on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Intern responsibilities include responding to constituent requests for information and assistance, giving tours of the U.S. Capitol to visiting Iowans, assisting with scheduling, and researching legislation and current issues.
In addition, high school juniors serve as pages in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Pages work in the Capitol and congressional office buildings, and their main duties include preparing the House and Senate floors for sessions of Congress, delivering documents, and answering phones and taking messages. Because of the exposure to the legislative chambers, working as a congressional page is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe the workings of Congress. It’s also an opportunity to work and learn with students from all over the United States. Congressional pages must be at least 16 years of age and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. All congressional pages are paid. Members of Congress sponsor students to be pages. Due to the limited number of spots, the right to sponsor a page rotates among members of Congress from year to year. While in Washington, pages attend the Page School and live in the Page Residence Hall, both of which are located within a few blocks of the U.S. Capitol.
Grassley Internships -- /students/internships
House of Representatives Page Program -- http://pageprogram.house.gov
Senate Page Program -- http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Pages_vrd.htm