Attending a briefing by the Congressional Human Rights Commission on the rights of tribal and minorities in South Asia, researching an issue in order to draft a immigration reform bill, obtaining signatures from Congressional offices for a bill that your member of Congress is attempting to bring to the House floor – these may sound like the important duties of a staff member working on Capitol Hill, but this is a description of a typical day of a Congressional Intern! This summer, I was one of two interns chosen for SALDEF’s Congressional Internship Program – this new program seeks to introduce Sikh Americans to the legislative process by placing them as interns with Congressional offices. As an intern for Congresswoman Judy Chu, I had the opportunity to attend hearings and briefings on important issues like the keystone pipeline project, future of U.S. aid to Pakistan, and the financial crisis. Congresswoman Chu is also the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), which is dedicated to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S. As a Sikh American, this was very empowering – I worked on important immigration reform legislation and provided input on security issues that impact Sikh Americans. One particular project that significant to me was gaining sponsorship for the POWER Act. This legislation – Protecting Our Workers Against Exploitation and Retaliation – sought to provide temporary status to illegal immigrants who wish to report abuse faced at the hands of their employers. By allowing workers to report this abuse without the threat of being reprimanded or deported, this legislation hopes to hold businesses accountable for hiring and exploiting illegal immigrants by forcing them to pay fines. No other program allows such hands-on work on issues and projects that are vital to our community. SALDEF’s Congressional Internship Program gave me clarity in my future plans – I realized how much I thrive in public service and how much I enjoy working on policy issues. With this vital experience under my belt, I am equipped with the skills to focus my career on public service. CIP is an important program to place Sikh Americans on Capitol Hill and to give a Sikh voice to important legislative processes. Apply for SALDEF’s Internship Program here!
