The Panetta Experience

Jacqueline Kamel is this year’s Cal State Fullerton student representative taking part in the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy Congressional Internship program. Each year, each CSU campus selects one student for the program.

The Panetta Institute program started on Aug. 14. Since beginning the program, I have met so many influential and important individuals, including former Illinois Congressman Marty Russo; Charles Mahtesian, editor of Politico; and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta himself. That was in just the two weeks that I spent during the program’s orientation in Monterey Bay.

When those two weeks were over, I flew with the other Panetta interns to Washington, D.C., to experience firsthand what a member of Congress does on a daily basis. We took part in phone interviews while in Monterey Bay to be placed in offices of members of Congress who represent California.

I was interviewed and placed in the office of Congressman Howard Berman of the 28th district of California. I began my internship in his office on Aug. 31, and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far. The job encompasses the traditional duties of an intern: sorting mail, answering phones and running errands between the House office buildings. But, I also get to attend committee hearings and briefings, walk alongside influential people daily and witness history in the making. I also am responsible for logging constituents’ concerns in the form of postal mail, faxes, emails and phone calls and giving tours of the Capitol Building, which is a highlight of my position.

Caption: As a Panetta Scholar, Kamel is interning for U.S. Rep. Howard Berman.

It’s been an absolute joy to be here in the nation’s Capitol, the hub of all things political. I have had the pleasure of attending hearings on education and the federal government’s role in that spectrum, which is my topic of interest. I also have been asked to attend hearings and briefings in place of the legislative assistant in charge of certain issues that I would not have normally been interested in attending, but ended up loving and learning so much. I have learned more about the political process by being surrounded by it than I ever learned in any of my classes. Do not get me wrong, my classes gave me a great foundation for what to expect, but to actually witness it firsthand has taught me so much more.

For example, Congressman Berman serves on the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees. When a bill is introduced, it is done so in the committee it pertains to and goes through a markup in that committee. If the bill makes it through a markup hearing, that does not necessarily mean that it goes to the floor of the House for debate and/or a floor vote. This is the case for one of the bills, introduced by Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen, that recently made it through the Foreign Affairs Committee. It fascinates me to follow a bill through its many stages because some die rather quickly and others may live longer, but still not make it through all the phases.

It also was exciting to see in person the House of Representatives in session and see that the House chamber is a much smaller room than one would expect to fit 435 members, and that not all 435 members of Congress are present whenever the House is in session. The Speaker called the House into session, appointed a President Pro Tem, and then left the room. Sitting in the chairs were maybe eight or nine members waiting to speak for their one-minute turn. It was just very unique to have had that experience in person.

Along with our internship in our offices, the Panetta Institute arranges seminars for us once a week with multiple individuals who have expertise in a plethora of topics. We have met with the House parliamentarian to be taken down on the floor of the House and discuss the procedures of Congress. We met with Charles Mahtesian at the offices of Politico to discuss the upcoming election for House and Senate members. We met with Congressman Dan Lungren to discuss the House Administration Committee duties, and we also met with former Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta, who was in that position during the attacks of 9/11.

This internship has been a great experience and I have learned so much since it all began, especially just how busy members of Congress really are, flying back and forth between D.C. and their districts. This has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one I will remember for the rest of my life. I will look back on this time in my life and think about the moment that my love for politics and the American political process grew even stronger.

I give huge thanks to Secretary and Mrs. Leon and Sylvia Panetta and the Panetta Institute as a whole for providing this opportunity to so many students who would never have been able to do something like this on our own. The Panetta Institute staff is one-of-a-kind and has made this experience extremely enjoyable. The Panettas are amazing individuals, who I have had the pleasure of meeting on multiple occasions and who inspire people to continue to give back to our government and communities in the form of public service.

Nov. 1, 2011