On January 18, 2024, POPVOX Foundation and the organizations of the First Branch Intern Project hosted the eight “Internapalooza” orientation and welcome event for the spring class of Congressional interns.

On January 18, 2024, POPVOX Foundation and members of the First Branch Intern Project hosted “Internapalooza”—a free, nonpartisan orientation and welcome event for all current Congressional interns.

On September 11, 2023, POPVOX Foundation and members of the First Branch Intern Project hosted “Internapalooza”—a free, nonpartisan orientation and welcome event for all current Congressional interns.

The First Branch Intern Project (FBIP), a coalition of organizations supporting congressional internships, commends the House of Representatives for taking steps to establish a House Intern Resource Office (HIRO).

As many summer internships enter their final weeks, now is a good time to start preparing for the transition, and to get the most out of your experience!

The POPVOX Foundation and the organizations of the First Branch Intern Project hosted the second “Internapalooza,” in collaboration with the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (aka “ModCom”) on January 13-21st.

The POPVOX Foundation and the organizations of the First Branch Intern Project hosted the first-ever “Internapalooza,” in collaboration with the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (aka “ModCom”) on September 9-10. Over 280 current and prospective interns attended virtual sessions designed to familiarize them with Congress and give them skills to succeed in their internship and beyond.

This National Intern Day, the POPVOX Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the Fall 2021 Intern Orientation, also known as Intern-a-Palooza! This two-day free orientation and welcome event for Congressional interns is hosted by the POPVOX Foundation and organizations involved in the First Branch Intern Project, in collaboration with the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.

Al Edrich Labang, a rising senior at the University of Guam, has spent the summer interning virtually with the U.S. House of Representatives. Though virtual internships are not abnormal thanks to COVID-19, Al’s experience is a bit more unique because he interns all the way from Guam!

College to Congress (C2C) announced former Congressman Dennis Ross (FL-15) will be stepping into the role of Interim CEO at College to Congress.

Narrow talent pipelines, pigeonholing of portfolio issues and casual microaggressions from colleagues and bosses are some of the issues hampering efforts to recruit and retain House staffers that represent the diversity of the nation and districts they represent, witnesses told the House Modernization of Congress Committee on Thursday.

The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") will hold a virtual hearing titled "Professionalizing & Enriching the Congressional Internship and Fellowship Experience" on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.

Remote internships are expanding opportunity and bridging the traditional gulf between Capitol Hill and members' offices in their districts, although they can be tough for offices — and interns — to navigate. Several organizations are stepping up to provide resources and support to ensure that offices are able to continue their internship programs in these exceptional times.

Congressional internships are a key gateway to careers in public service and government affairs on and off Capitol Hill. When the devastating COVID-19 pandemic shut down nearly all in-person internships, many students were shut out of these opportunities. That’s why Congress made the necessary decision to allow interns to telework during the pandemic and future emergency circumstances.

A recently released New America report by Alexander C. Furnas and Timothy M. LaPira provides an overview of declining Congressional capacity in an era of rising polarization and increasing political party competition. “As a consequence,” LaPira and Furnas write, “legislative staff in Washington are asked to do more and more, with less and less.” For most staffers, the limited resources of the legislative branch are revealed at step one in the Congressional staff pipeline: internships. These essential opportunities are the entry point for many future staffers and the keystone of the opportunity disparities and lack of diversity on Capitol Hill.

Remote internships are expanding opportunity and bridging the traditional gulf between Capitol Hill and members' offices in their districts, although they can be tough for offices — and interns — to navigate. Several organizations are stepping up to provide resources and support to ensure that offices are able to continue their internship programs in these exceptional times.