06.29.11

Belleville Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Belleville resident Jamie St. Eve will spend nine weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator’s Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin’s Washington, D.C. offices. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings of the federal government and develop valuable research skills.

“Forty-five years ago, I started my career on Capitol Hill as a college intern for Senator Paul Douglas (D-IL),” Senator Durbin said. “I will never forget that day in February of 1966 when he agreed to hire me as an intern to work in his office. It was one of the most exciting things I had ever done; a student from East St. Louis, Illinois was going to work in the office of a U.S. Senator. I know what a valuable experience it can be and we strive to make sure all of our students get a glimpse into the workings of the United States Senate.” 

The daughter of Matt and Sherry St. Eve, Jamie is studying history in the Arts and Humanities department of the College of Architecture at Clemson University. St. Eve graduated from Notre Dame High School in St. Louis in 2009. As an intern in Sen. Durbin’s office, she will attend congressional committee hearings, communicate with Illinois constituents, give tours of the Capitol building and track legislation on issues like animal rights.

"My internship with Senator Durbin has helped me to gain a deeper understanding about how our government works,” St. Eve said. “In the Capitol, I also typically see Senators on a daily basis, which has inspired me to continue to be a leader. All of these wonderful experiences have allowed me to see politics in practice, while broadening my knowledge of American political affairs.  I love Washington, D.C. not only because I am surrounded by history from the past, but because I am also seeing history being made in our present. "

The internship program is designed to provide interns with experience in the core functions of Senate office and allow them to gain a better understanding of the federal legislative process. Responsibilities include assisting full-time staff in responding to various constituent requests, assisting with information inquiries, attending committee and agency hearings and briefings, researching legislative issues and policy questions, observing floor proceedings, and attending meetings related to specific legislation. Internships can range from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.