First Branch Intern Project Organizations Commend Establishment of House Intern Resource Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

APRIL 27, WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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) within the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. The group of organizations sent a letter to the Committee on House Administration Chair Bryan Steil and Ranking Member Joseph Morelle expressing their support.

The House Intern Resource Office will help standardize and centralize intern-related practices, to raise awareness about internship opportunities and ensure that internship opportunities are accessible to people from a wide diversity of backgrounds. The office will also provide guidance, training, and support for interns while maintaining data to further improve internship progams. This initiative follows the successful launch of similar efforts, such as the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the House Human Resources Hub, and the House Resume Bank. The FBIP letter also acknowledges the bipartisan work of the 116th and 117th Congresses that laid the foundation for HIRO's establishment, including recommendation #110 in the final report of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress and the allocation of $350,000 in the FY2023 Appropriations report.

In addition to expressing their support, the coalition offers its assistance in launching the House Intern Resource Office, providing recommendations and resources relevant to its mission.

The First Branch Intern Project organizations are eager to engage with, support, and amplify the efforts of the House Intern Resource Office to benefit congressional interns in the months and years ahead.

About the FIrst Branch Intern Project

The First Branch Intern Project is an ongoing collaboration to provide resources and networking opportunities for Congressional interns and to promote diversity among those applying for and attaining Congressional internships. The collaborative effort is supported by POPVOX Foundation and is best-known for hosting “Internapalooza” to welcome new Congressional interns in the Spring, Summer and Fall.

Participating Organizations

Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies

BPC Action

Black Women's Congressional Alliance

College to Congress

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

Congressional Management Foundation

Demand Progress Education Fund

Pay Our Interns

Partnership for Public Service

POPVOX

POPVOX Foundation

Prolegis

TourTrackr

United States Capitol Historical Society

Victory Institute

For more information, please contact Anne Meeker, POPVOX Foundation anne@popvox.org.