06.29.11

Jackson Park Highlands Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Chicago resident Julian Miller will spend eight 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 student intern in Durbin’s Washington, D.C. office.  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 son of Walter and Patricia Miller, Julian is a rising junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, pursuing a dual degree in political science and communication. Miller graduated from Whitney Young Magnet High School in 2009. As an intern in Sen. Durbin’s office, he is particularly interested in attending Senate committee hearings on comprehensive immigration reform.

“I’ve had some experience with political campaigns, so I was interested in seeing what happens after the candidate gets elected,” Miller said. “This internship has given me some great insight into life as a public servant, and has helped to shape my professional goals.”

The internship program is designed to provide interns with experience in the core functions of a Senate office and allow them to gain a better understanding of the federal legislative process. Their 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.