Palatine Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

Palatine resident Sneh Rao has spent seven 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 students intern in Durbin’s Washington, D.C. office.  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 in a news release. “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.” 

Rao is currently pursuing a Master in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School.  He graduated from Macalester College in 2006 and went on to join a San Francisco-based international human rights organization, where he worked on their Latin America program.  While interning for Senator Durbin, Rao has been working with the Appropriations Committee staff.  He is one of 24 interns from around the country working in Sen. Durbin’s office this summer. 

“Working with Senator Durbin’s office allows me an opportunity to go behind the headlines and see first-hand how Congress addresses our country’s most pressing issues,” said Rao.  “Whether its consumer protection, foreign policy, or government oversight, it is a privilege to see how the Senator is able to impact the news of the day.”

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.

-Submitted by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's Office