♫♫ ♫♫ ♫ SOUNDING SO GOOD LIKE THIS ♫ ♫ WHOA, WHOA, WHOA ♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ >>> GOOD DAY.

WELCOME TO "THE WASHINGTON REPORT."

THE SHOW´S GUESTS RANGE FROM POLITICAL LEADERS TO COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.

THIS SHOW IS ALL ABOUT GETTING INFORMATION FOR YOU, TO YOU.

THEREFORE, I ENCOURAGE YOU E-MAIL QUESTIONS TO ASKSTACY@MAIL.HOUSE.GOVERNOR @MAIL.HOUSE.GOV.

I HAVE SPECIAL GUESTS, WHAT WE CALL THE JEWELS ON THE HILL, INTERNS IN THE OFFICE OF STACY.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OFFER MANY INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND TO OUR DISTRICT OFFICES.

THOSE ARE OUR OFFICES IN THE PLACES THAT WE REPRESENT AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

OPPORTUNITIES ARE GENERALLY AVAILABLE IN THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL.

SUMMER POSITIONS ARE THE MOST POPULAR AND PROBABLY THE MOST COMPETITIVE.

APPLYING FOR AN INTERNSHIP OR FELLOWSHIP IS SIMILAR TO APPLYING FOR ADMISSION TO COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OR FOR YOUR SUMMER JOB.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS TAKES TIME AND EFFORT, OFTEN REQUIRING ESSAYS AND INTERVIEWS, MULTIPLE INTERVIEWS THE HOUSE IS ACTUALLY NOT A SINGLE EMPLOYING ENTITY.

YOU DON´T JUST APPLY TO ONE PLACE BUT RATHER THEY CONSIST OF SEVERAL HUNDRED INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYING OFFICES.

THESE OFFICES INCLUDE THE OVER 400 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, COMMITTEES THAT ARE IN CONGRESS, HOUSE OFFICERS AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

AND THEY CARRY OUT RESPONSIBILITIES RANGING FROM REPRESENTATIONAL DUTIES ON BEHALF OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES, OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL AGENCIES, ADMINISTRATION AND THE OPERATIONS AND PROCESS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE HOUSE, COMMUNICATIONS, DIGITAL.

IT GOES ON.

CURRENTLY THE TOTAL WORKFORCE IS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 EMPLOYEES.

WHILE OVER HALF OF THE EMPLOYEES WORK IN WASHINGTON D.C., THERE ARE HOUSE EMPLOYEES WORKING FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN EVERY STATE, FROM ALASKA TO FLORIDA.

FROM VERMONT TO GUAM.

AND OF COURSE PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

BECAUSE THE DETAILS OF INDIVIDUAL INTERNSHIPS VARY, IT´S BEST TO CONTACT THE OFFICE IN WHICH THE INTERNSHIP IS AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION.

MANY REPRESENTATIVES POST INTERNSHIP INFORMATION ON THEIR WEB SITE.

SO YOU CAN FIND OUT A COMMITTEE THAT A YOUNG PERSON MAY BE INTERESTED IN, A CAREER THAT THEY´RE INTERESTED IN PURSUING OR AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY THAT YOU MAY HAVE TIES TO OR YOUR OWN HOME MEMBERS´ DISTRICTS TO SEE ABOUT WORKING WITH THEM IN WASHINGTON OR BACK AT HOME.

NOW TO MY SPECIAL GUEST.

THIS IS ALWAYS REALLY FUN FOR ME WHEN I HAVE INTERNS THAT ARE ON THE "THE WASHINGTON REPORT."

I DECIDED TO MIX IT UP THIS TIME TIME.

I DON´T JUST HAVE CURRENT INTERNS, I ALSO HAVE A FORMER INTERN, A CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS INTERN, KELSEY WONG, A PROUD NATIVE OF NORTH CAROLINA, RECEIVED HER BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MEDIA STUDIES WITH A MINOR IN SPANISH.

FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO IN 2020.

KELSEY HAS A BACKGROUND IN CINEMATOGRAPHY, VIDEO FILM PRODUCTION AND EDITING.

KELSEY DREAMS OF TRAVELING THE WORLD, FILMING OTHER CULTURES WHILE PORTRAYING AND DOCUMENTING THE VOICES OF OTHERS THROUGH THE EYES OF A LENS.

KELSEY IS SERVING AS A VIRTUAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERN AND IS THRILLED TO BE WORKING IN OUR OFFICE THIS FALL AND WE´RE THRILLED TO HAVE HER.

>> FROM ST. THOMAS, SHAHEEN A IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF ROANOKE COLLEGE WITH A COMMUNICATIONS AGREE.

HER GOALS ARE TO BE AN INFLUENCER AND BUSINESS WOMAN THAT PROMOTES POSITIVE SOCIETAL CHANGES IN THE COMMUNITY AND FIGHTS AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY ISSUES MINORITY GROUPS FACE.

SHE HOPES TO PERSUADE HER COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER GENERATION, TO USE THEIR TALENTS, DIFFERENCES AND PASSIONS TO INFLUENCE POSITIVE, PERSONAL AND SOCIETAL CHANGE.

AS AN INTERN SHE USES HER CREATIVE EYE TO HELP VIRGIN ISLANDERS FROM MY ST. CROIX OFFICE.

MICHAEL PAUL IS A FORMER INTERN OF MINE.

MICHAEL PAULS JR. IS CURRENTLY A CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANT SERVING IN THE OFFICES OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS AT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.

HE IS WITH THE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION IN THAT ROLE AND PRIOR TO WORKING IN THE ADMINISTRATION, MICHAEL SERVED AS FIELD ORGANIZER ON THE GEORGIA SENATE RUNOFF.

AND NORTH CAROLINA COORDINATED CAMPAIGNS DURING THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE.

MICHAEL STARTED HIS CAREER ON CAPITOL HILL AS A COMMUNICATIONS FELLOW IN MY OFFICE BEFORE JOINING THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN DONALD NORCROSS OF NEW JERSEY AS A STAFF ASSISTANT AND THEN BEING PROMOTED TO LEGISLATIVE CORRESPONDENT.

HE RECEIVED HIS B.A.

IN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK AND I SEE THAT HE -- IF I DON´T SAY IT, HE´S GOING TO SAY IT, IS A PROUD MEMBER OF KAPPA ALPHA SI FRATERNITY.

>> KELSEY, YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE AS A CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS INTERN.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU RECEIVED THAT INTERNSHIP?

>> YES, I CAN.

I´M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.

I DID COME ACROSS THIS INTERNSHIP THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION AND THAT´S JUST IT.

THAT´S HOW I CAME TO IT.

MY SISTER WAS A PAST INTERN AS WELL AND I FIGURED HEY, I´LL GIVE IT A TRY.

>> IT´S INTERESTING WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION, THEY HAVE BOTH INTERNSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS.

PRIOR TO COVID, THEY ACTUALLY EVEN HAD INTERNS THAT LIVED HERE RIGHT OFF CAMPUS AND THEY HAD ACTIVITIES FOR THEM IN THE EVENING, CLASSES, ET CETERA, THAT THEY WERE A PART OF.

SO YOU FILLED OUT AN APPLICATION AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT, KELSEY?

>> WELL, LET´S SEE, COVID HAPPENED AND EVERYTHING WAS UP IN THE AIR.

EVERYTHING WAS JUST THROWN IN A LOOP.

AND THE CDC HAVE HAD TO SCRAMBLE AND FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY THEY COULD HOW TO STILL OFFER THE BEST EXPERIENCE.

SO I ACTUALLY APPLIED THE END OF DECEMBER 2020, GOT ACCEPTED BUT THEN TURN AROUND, WE HAD TO DO IT VIRTUALLY.

AT THAT TIME WE WEREN´T ABLE TO BE PLACED.

SO NOW I´M BACK HERE AND I´VE BEEN PLACED WITH YOU.

WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WE HAD TO FILL OUT ABOUT TWO ESSAYS, MAYBE A COUPLE SHORT STORIES AND WE JUST WERE SITTING DUCKS.

SO IT WAS NERVE RACKING BECAUSE IT´S EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> SHAHEENA, CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT WHY YOU DECIDED TO INTERN IN A CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE?

I MEAN, YOU WANT TO BE A BUSINESS WOMAN, YOU WANT TO BE AN INFLUENCER.

HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO WORKING IN A CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE?

>> WELL, I ACTUALLY STARTED OFF BECAUSE I HEARD ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FROM MY COUSIN WHO WAS ALSO AN INTERN AT THE OFFICE IN ST. CROIX.

SO I WAS LIKE WHY NOT GIVE IT A SHOT.

I MEAN, ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

AND A BIG INFLUENCE OF MINE IS ACTUALLY YOU, CONGRESSWOMAN.

>> OH.

ARE YOU TRYING TO GET BROWNIE POINTS?

IT´S WORKING.

IT´S WORKING, GIRL!

>> DEFINITELY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I DECIDED TO JOIN.

>> GREAT, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

SHAHEENA, IT´S DIFFERENT FOR YOU AND KELSEY AND MICHAEL, YOU GUYS HAVE HAD COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXAMPLES.

SHAHEENA, YOU´RE THERE IN THE DISTRICT WITH EVERYONE, KELSEY, YOU´RE WORKING VIRTUALLY AND MICHAEL, YOU WORKED WITH ME IN THE D.C. OFFICE.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT A TYPICAL DAY LOOKED LIKE IN YOUR INTERNSHIP?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS, CONGRESSWOMAN, FOR HAVING ME.

I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME YOU´RE MY FAVORITE MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

>> Y´ALL LOOK GOOD.

>> A TYPICAL DAY IN OFFICE, MAKING SURE TO GET THERE BY 8:30 A.M. AND SET OUT THE NEWSPAPERS, YOU LOVE "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," MAKING SURE YOU GOT THAT.

SORTING MAIL, GETTING A RUN-THROUGH FOR WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THE DAY.

WE WOULD DO A STAFF MEETING, USUALLY GET A COUPLE OF DO-OUTS AND IF I DIDN´T RECEIVE ANYTHING TO WORK ON, THERE ARE ALWAYS CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS I COULD GO AND SIT IN ON, MAYBE I COULD WRITE A FLOOR SPEECH OR DO A MEMO.

SO THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH TO DO AS FAR AS AN INTERNSHIP IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT ALLOWED YOU TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO.

LET´S SAY YOU COME IN NOT KNOWING IF YOU WANT TO DO COMES OR LEG.

THEY´RE REALLY DIFFERENT.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOU, KELSEY?

>> THIS IS MY SECOND WEEK CAN THE COMS TEAM.

I LOVE IT ALREADY.

I´VE BEEN TESTED WITH THINGS I HAVE THE HAD HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE UNTIL THIS INTERNSHIP.

I STARTED WORKING ON OP-EDS, SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS AND ALL OF THAT CONTENT.

THAT´S WHAT MY DAY NORMALLY LOOKS LIKE.

IT CAN BE HECTIC.

IT MAY START OFF SMOOTH, GO INTO -- IT´S JUST A ROLLERCOASTER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> SHAHEENA, WHAT´S IT LIKE WORKING IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE WITH THE OTHER PEOPLE?

YOU´RE IN ST. CROIX.

>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT ME WORKING IN THE OFFICE IS I GET TO BUILD A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE.

WHENEVER THEY CALL IN AND THEY HAVE AN ISSUE, I CAN ALWAYS TALK TO THEM AND SAY, HEY, WHAT IS IT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

AND THAT´S WHAT A LOT OF MY DAY CONSISTS OF, AS WELL AS BECAUSE I´M PART OF THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, I WORK ON PRESS RELEASES AND SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS.

>> EXCELLENT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, SHAHEENA, HAS BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY THAT SERVED YOU THE MOST AS AN INTERN IN THE OFFICE?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY THAT SERVED ME THE MOST AS AN INTERN IN THE OFFICE IS DEFINITELY THE CONNECTION THAT I GET TO BUILD WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE, LIKE I SAID BEFORE.

I FEEL LIKE MY COMMUNICATION BETTERS WITH EACH PERSON THAT I HELP OUT BECAUSE I´M ALWAYS GIVEN MORE RESOURCES SO THAT I CAN HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

SO I FEEL LIKE THAT´S THE MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT´S DEFINITELY ALIGNING WITH MY GOALS OF WANTING TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE AND FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS THE ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND, KELSEY, YOU KNOW, AS A COMMUNICATIONS PERSON, I ALWAYS THINK IT´S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM REALLY GET TO SEE ACROSS SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, MICHAEL, YOU WORKED IN COMMUNICATIONS, SHAHEENA, YOU´RE HELPING OUT AS WELL.

YOU SEE THE LOCAL ISSUES THAT WE´RE DEALING WITH.

YOU UNDERSTAND THE CONSTITUENTS, THE THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE ARE CALLING ABOUT AND HOW WE´RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT THEN YOU ALSO GET TO SEE WHAT´S HAPPENING HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WHAT´S THE LEGISLATION WE FIND IMPORTANT, WHAT´S HAPPENING ON THE HILL, ET CETERA.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FOR YOU, KELSEY, THE MOST LIKE -- THE THING THAT YOU DIDN´T THINK THAT YOU WERE SURPRISED BY THE MOST?

>> I´M SORRY, CONGRESSWOMAN, I COULDN´T HEAR YOU THAT LAST PART.

>> I´M SORRY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE THING THAT´S SURPRISED YOU THE MOST OF WHAT YOU´VE SEEN WORKING HERE IN WASHINGTON?

YOU CAN BE HONEST.

>> WELL, AGAIN, IT´S ONLY MY SECOND WEEK SO I´M WAITING TO SEE REALLY WHAT´S GOING TO HAPPEN I GUESS NOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE BACK IN SESSION, IT´S PROBABLY GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE CRAZY BUT I GUESS I WASN´T EXPECTING REALLY FOR IT TO BE AS CRAZY AS PEOPLE MADE IT OUT TO BE.

YOU KNOW, ANYTHING CAN POP UP AND ALL OF THESE FIRES, LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE CAN HAPPEN, AND I WASN´T EXPECTING IT, FOR INSTANCE, YOU MAY JUST HAVE A BILLION E-MAILS COMING THROUGH THAT´S THE MOST SURPRISING THING TO ME RIGHT NOW.

I´M PROBABLY WRONG.

>> YOU KNOW, MICHAEL, YOU SHOULD LET KELSEY NOW SHE´S LUCKY SHE´S VIRTUAL BECAUSE THE NEWEST PERSON HAS TO BABY SIT ME ON LATE NIGHTS AND LAST NIGHT YOU WAS HERE WAITING TO DEBATE AN AMENDMENT UNTIL 10:30.

SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR JOB TO BE HERE AT 10:30 WITH ME AND BE BACK BY 8:00 AND MAKE SURE BY 8:30 MY WALL STREET JOURNAL WAS SITTING ON MY DESK.

RIGHT, PAUL?

HOW WOULD YOU SAY, MR. PAUL, THE INTERNSHIP HAS PREPARED TO YOU WORK IN THE ADMINISTRATION NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WOULD SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST IT PREPARED ME BY SHOWING ME WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WORK IN A FAS PACED ENVIRONMENT.

THE HILL IS LIKE VERY FAST MOVING, THINGS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

IT COULDN´T MATTER HOW FAR IN ADVANCE YOU PLAN IT.

YOU CAN HAVE EVERYTHING PLANNED TO THE T. TEN MINUTES PRIOR TO THE EVENT OR YOUR AMENDMENT COMES TO THE FLOOR, SOMETHING CAN CHANGE.

THAT´S PROBABLY THE WAY IT PREPARED ME THE MOST TO WORK IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> EXCELLENT.

EXCELLENT.

KELSEY, I KNOW IT´S ONLY BEEN TWO WEEKS, BUT WHAT SKILLS DO YOU WANT TO GAIN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE?

>> THE SKILLS I WOULD LOVE TO GAIN FROM THIS IS, AGAIN, POLISHING AND PERFECTING MY WRITING SKILLS BUT ALSO NETWORKING.

IT´S IMPERATIVE IN THIS MOMENT WHILE WE ARE VIRTUAL AND WORKING REMOTELY WITH PEOPLE AND BUILDING A UPON MY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS KEY.

>> SHAHEENA, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING LIKE CONCRETE THINGS THAT YOU THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE BETTER AT BY THE TIME THAT YOU LEAVE HERE?

>> THAT WOULD BE MY NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS AS WELL.

BEFORE I WAS A LITTLE MORE -- DESPITE MY MAJOR OF BEING COMMUNICATIONS, I WAS A LITTLE MORE ON THE TIMID SIDE.

I DIDN´T REALLY KNOW HOW TO APPROACH PEOPLE AND NETWORK.

BUT BEING SURROUNDED BY INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE CONSTANTLY WHEN I´M IN THE CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE, PEOPLE ALWAYS CALLING IN AND I´M LEARNING ABOUT WHAT NEWER PEOPLE DO.

SO I FEEL LIKE THAT´S THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THAT´S WHAT´S GOING TO HELP ME IN THE FUTURE, BEING ABLE TO NETWORK, BEING ABLE TO LEARN FROM PEOPLE FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE MORE BIGGER THAN I AM SO THAT I CAN HAVE RESOURCES TO DO THAT AS WELL.

>> SHAHEENA, WHAT´S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHEN YOU GUYS ARE OPERATING IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE WHEN I´M THERE AND WHEN I´M NOT THERE?

DOES IT CHANGE THE DIRECTION AND WHAT´S HAPPENING CHANGE WHEN I´M THERE AS OPPOSED TO WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE OPERATING ON AUTO PILOT?

>> THERE IS A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE.

I WOULDN´T SAY MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE EITHER WAY, YOU KNOW, DAYS CAN BE HECTIC OR CAN BE MORE LAID BACK THAN OTHERS.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE CALL IN, HOW MUCH WORK THERE IS TO DO.

I WOULD SAY A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM IS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU´RE THERE, CONGRESSWOMAN, ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT NEED ASSISTANCE WITH, I AM 100% HELP YOU, AS WELL AS THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE SO WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON OUR PLATE BUT WHEN YOU´RE NOT THERE, THEN IT´S MORE LIKE WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON WHAT IT IS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE.

>> THANK YOU.

MICHAEL, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN MEMBERS WE CALL IT BEING IN SESSION, RIGHT, THAT´S WHEN THERE´S A LEGISLATIVE, AN ACTIVE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR, PEOPLE ARE VOTING, THERE ARE COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

WHAT´S THE DIFFERENCE IN A CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE AND WHAT´S THE DIFFERENCE AN INTERN CAN GET OUT OF WHEN MEMBERS ARE THERE AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THEY GET WHEN MEMBERS AREN´T THERE?

BECAUSE I THINK THERE´S VALUE AS WELL WHEN THE MEMBER IS NOT THERE, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ALTHOUGH WE WERE NEVER HAPPY WHEN YOU WEREN´T THERE.

UP.

>> KNOW, YOU REALLY ARE LAYING IT ON THICK.

>> THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THERE´S LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS GOING ON.

A LOT OF THE WORK IS PRO ACTIVE BUT MORE SO REACTIVE.

YOU´RE REACTING TO A BILL COMING TO THE FLOOR, TO WHAT YOUR COMMITTEE WILL DO LEGISLATIVELY BUT WHEN IT´S A DISTRICT WORK WEEK AND YOU´RE IN THE V.I., WE´RE MORE SO PREPARING FOR THE PERIOD WHEN THE HOUSE IS IN SESSION.

I WOULD SAY THAT´S THE KEY DIFFERENCE.

>> WHAT ADVICE, MICHAEL, BECAUSE YOU HAVE GONE AND I´VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE WHO WERE INTERNS, THEN THEY WENT OFF TO SCHOOL, OR THEY WERE INTERNS WHILE THEY WERE IN SCHOOL, CAME BACK.

SOME OF THEM CAME AND WORKED IN THE OFFICE AS A PERMANENT PERSON AFTER GRADUATING AND THEN THEY´VE GONE ON TO OTHER OFFICES.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FORMER INTERNS WORKING IN OTHER CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES, WORKING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT ADVICE AND WHAT QUALITY DO YOU THINK ALLOWS -- WHAT´S THE PENALTY TYPE OF SOMEONE WHO IS AN INTERN AND THEN ENDS UP WORKING FULL TIME ON CAPITOL HILL?

>> I WOULD SAY IT´S A MIXTURE OF, ONE, BEING GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO.

SO WHENEVER YOU´RE GIVEN A TASK, ALWAYS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.

THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO ALWAYS SAYS YES TO ANYTHING.

YOU MIGHT BE A LEGISLATIVE INTERCOMS DIRECTOR NEEDS HELP, YOU SHOULD BE WILLING TO SAY I´LL NETWORK OR I´LL DO IT.

>> IF YOU WERE AN OFFICER IN A PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION HERE?

>> YES, THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK ASSOCIATES.

IT´S A PLACE WHERE BLACK STAFFERS OR INTERNS ALIKE CAN COME TOGETHER, WE NETWORK, WE FELLOWSHIP BUT WE ALSO DID COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BUT ALSO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

>> KELSEY, WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AFTER YOU COMPLETE YOUR INTERNSHIP?

WHAT´S NEXT AFTER THIS?

WE HAVE YOU UNTIL FEBRUARY?

WHEN DO WE HAVE YOU UNTIL?

>> NO, YOU HAVE ME UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR.

BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP ME, WE CAN TALK.

>> ALL RIGHT NOW, ALL RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK I NEED TO COME AND MAKE A VISIT TO D.C. AND WORK IN YOUR OFFICE.

>> I THINK SO.

>> I WOULD REALLY LOVE THAT.

I THINK I NEED TO -- >> YOU HEAR THAT MIKE QUERY, SOMEONE´S MAKING A PLUG.

>> MY GOALS FOR AFTER THIS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, I´M FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE.

I´M LOOKING FOR A JOB WHERE I CAN BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT.

I´M HERE TO JUST NETWORK AND AFTERWARDS, WE´LL SEE.

I´M A PERSON THAT RELIES ON FAITH AND I´M JUST LEAVING IT IN GOD´S HANDS RIGHT NOW, WHEREVER THE WIND TAKES ME.

BUT I WOULD LOVE TO EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A POLITICAL CAPACITY OR POLITICAL REALM.

>> OKAY.

AND SHAHEENA, WHAT COMES NEXT AFTER THE INTERNSHIP FOR YOU?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW I´M LIVING THE INTERNSHIP SO I MIGHT JUST STAY AND WORK FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

BUT AFTER WORKING I MIGHT JUST OPEN MY OWN BUSINESS, WHICH IS ONE OF MY GOALS.

>> WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS ARE WE OPENING SO WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT?

A WHAT KIND?

>> A CLOTHING BUSINESS.

>> OOH.

ALL RIGHT, OKAY.

MICHAEL, YOU ARE NOW WITH -- I CAN RECALL, ONE, WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND YOU CAME BY AND YOU´VE BEEN -- YOU´RE SO GREAT.

WE TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY COMES BY, CHECKS IN WITH US.

I KNOW YOU´D BE COMING TO CHECK US FOR THE FOOD, MICHAEL.

YOU´RE NOT SLICK, YOU´RE NOT SLICK.

WE ALWAYS HAVE FOOD IN THE OFFICE.

YOU CAME BY AND JUST SHARED THE EXPERIENCE YOU HAD WITH WHERE YOU ARE WORKING.

YOU´RE IN THE OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING WHERE THE VICE PRESIDENT´S OFFICE IS AS WELL.

WHAT´S THAT LIKE, YOU KNOW?

SOMEONE WHO JUST TOOK A CHANCE AND STEPPED OUT THERE AND DECIDED TO WORK ON THE HILL.

>> I WOULD SAY IT´S INCREDIBLE.

THERE ARE DEFINITELY MOMENTS WALKING DOWN THE HALLS OR THE NAVY STEPS THAT OVERLOOK THE WEST WING, IT´S LIKE, WOW, I´M REALLY HERE.

THE VICE PRESIDENT, SEEING HER IN THE HALLWAY, SEEING THE SECOND GENTLEMAN, PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON WAS THERE YESTERDAY.

AND IT´S JUST LIKE I REALLY WORK HERE.

I NEVER PLANNED ON THIS.

I LOOSELY WENT ON THIS PUBLIC SERVICE PATH STARTING IN YOUR OFFICE AND GOING TO ANOTHER OFFICE ON THE HILL AND JOINING THE CAMPAIGN AND NOT KNOWING WHERE IT WOULD TAKE ME.

IT WAS MOVING BY FAITH AND JUST LETTING GOD DO WHAT HE DOES.

>> GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO YOU GUYS, ALL OF YOU, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY NOTE IS THAT GOD HAS REALLY GRACED EACH OF YOU WITH TREMENDOUS ENERGY AND WILLINGNESS TO LEARN AND WHAT YOU SAID, STEPPING OUT IN FAITH AND TAKING RISKS, RIGHT?

WHEN YOU LEFT YOUR POSITION, IT WAS A GOOD POSITION WITH DONALD NORCROSS TO JUST GO AND WORK ON A CAMPAIGN.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT´S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT THAT RISK TAKING PAYS OFF.

AND, KELSEY, FILLING OUT THAT APPLICATION OR SHAHEENA, THOMAS.

YOU CAME TO ST. CROIX.

YOU DON´T REALLY KNOW ST. CROIX BUT YOU´RE LIKE I´LL TAKE THE JOB IS OPEN HERE ON ST. CROIX SO I´M GOING TO DO IT.

WE´VE BEEN ALL BLESSED BY HAVING YOU.

THE ENERGY OF MY INTERNS IS JUST ASTOUNDING AND I LOVE TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE ALWAYS DOING.

SO FINALLY THIS YEAR WE CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF ENDING THE "WASHINGTON REPORT" WITH WORDS FROM STACY.

THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, WHICH WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC.

I´M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THIS BILL INCLUDES A PROVISION TO CANCEL THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS, CDLs, ISSUED BY FEMA TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AFTER THE HURRICANES.

THIS WILL ASAVE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS MORE THAN $300 MILLION IN MUCH-NEEDED REVENUE AND REMOVE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED TO OBTAIN FINANCING, TO MITIGATE MASSIVE REVENUE LOSSES, CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC AND SEVERE HURRICANE DISASTERS.

WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE THROUGH THESE CDLs HAVING BEEN CANCELLED AND WE´RE GRATEFUL TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THE HOUSE FOR INSISTING THESE BE ADDED.

SO ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, IDEAS THAT YOU´D LIKE US TO HANDLE, TO TALK WITH, PLEASE E-MAIL US @ASKSTACY.

WE´RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN.

TAKE CARE.

♫♫ ♫♫ THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

>>> I REMEMBER GOING HUNGRY AND SEEING MY MOM CRY BECAUSE SHE COULDN´T FEED HER KIDS.

AND I´D TELL MYSELF, I DON´T WANT TO LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

>> THIS IS A STORY OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

>> BUT IT´S ALSO THE STORY OF AMERICA.

>> THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd AT 9 P.M. ON WTJX ORIGINAL.