Naperville, Illinois Student Interns in Durbin's Washington, DC Senate Office
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Naperville, Illinois native Reeny John spent two months this summer interning for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) in his Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 interns work in Durbin’s Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests and calls, help with legislative duties, and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington, D.C. 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.
“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.”
Reeny grew up in Naperville, Illinois. She is a rising junior at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, where she pursues a degree in Economics and Political Science. At Case Western Reserve University, Reeny is a founding member of the Speech and Debate Team and a member of the campus SMARRT (Students Meeting About Risk and Responsibility Training) program. Last summer, Reeny was an intern at Senator Durbin’s Chicago office and enjoyed working on labor and education issues.
"Growing up, my parents always reminded me of how fortunate I was to live in a country in which I was afforded not only natural freedoms, but the chance to have my voice heard,” said Reeny. “Through this internship, I have been reminded of this blessing and have gained experience which will aid me in the rest of my career.”
The internship is designed to provide interns with the 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 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.