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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Twenty-nine Texas A&M University students are |
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providing valuable support to the 87th Texas Legislature while |
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gaining experience in public service as members of the Agricultural |
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and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program and the Public |
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Policy Internship Program; and |
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WHEREAS, For three decades, the Agricultural and Natural |
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Resources Policy Internship Program has sent student interns to |
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Austin and Washington, D.C., where they work on a wide array of |
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issues; their strong background and interest in agriculture and |
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natural resources allow them to offer specialized knowledge to |
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legislators; the program was founded in response to a request by a |
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member of the United States Congress for an intern who could assist |
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his office with these matters, and it has since grown to include |
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numerous congressional offices as well as the United States House |
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of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, the United States |
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Department of Agriculture, and offices on the state level during |
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legislative years; approximately 1,000 students have participated |
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in semester-long internships; and |
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WHEREAS, The Public Policy Internship Program, established |
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in 1999, works with various colleges and departments to create an |
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interdisciplinary environment for comprehensive academic training, |
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research, and policy programming; interns in the nation's capital |
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and in Austin serve in a variety of settings that align with their |
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academic and professional goals; some 1,000 students have |
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participated in semester-long internships; and |
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WHEREAS, Led by director Stephanie Webb, both internship |
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programs select their highly qualified and dedicated participants |
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through a rigorous application process; in addition to academic |
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achievement, students must demonstrate their potential to take full |
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advantage of the opportunities for scholarly and professional |
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development as well as the desire to serve our state and nation; and |
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WHEREAS, The 2021 Texas A&M University policy interns serving |
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in Austin are Edwin "Dru" Barkis, Alexis Casiano, Elizabeth Crisp, |
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Sterling Crowdus, Alicia Dixon, Skyllar Duncan, Richard "Eric" |
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Ewing, Patrick "Henry" Featherston, Natalie Flanagan, Kyrie |
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Garlic, Tatum Hausman, Abigail Jablon, Emily Jacobs, Ryan Jones, |
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Brittany Keller, Eleanor Korth, Mihir Kulkarni, Hanna Lisenbe, |
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Christopher Livaudais, Gabriella Mata, Shruthi Murali, Kyler |
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Murphy, Brittany Reed, Elizabeth Schneider, Whitney Sloan, Grace |
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Swift, Victoria Torres, Nekaybaw Watson, and Mariam Zaidi; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, the Agricultural and Natural |
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Resources Policy and Public Policy Internship Programs have helped |
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exceptional students deepen their understanding of governmental |
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operations while developing professional skills and networks, and |
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alumni have gone on to make vital contributions and assume |
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leadership roles in a variety of arenas; the outstanding young |
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people who are giving of their time and talents throughout this |
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legislative session can indeed take pride in their achievements and |
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their service to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the Texas A&M University Agricultural |
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and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program and the Public |
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Policy Internship Program and commend the current participants for |
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their diligence and commitment; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the students as an expression of high regard from the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |