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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Twenty-seven Texas A&M University students are |
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providing valuable support to the 85th 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 more than two and a half decades, the |
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Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program has |
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sent student interns to Austin and Washington, D.C., where they |
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work on a wide array of issues; their strong background and interest |
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in agriculture and natural resources allow them to offer |
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specialized knowledge to legislators; the program was founded in |
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response to a request by a member of the United States Congress for |
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an intern who could assist his office with these matters, and it has |
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since grown to include numerous congressional offices as well as |
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the United States House of Representatives Committee on |
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Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture, and |
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offices on the state level during legislative years; approximately |
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900 students have participated 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 700 students have |
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participated in semester-long internships; and |
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WHEREAS, Led by director Stephanie McMillen, 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 2017 Texas A&M University policy interns serving |
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in Austin are Sarabeth Beauchamp, Chloe Beck, Ethan Boyd, Jordan |
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Buish, Gregory Cline, Samantha Durand, Alexandra Espinosa, Austin |
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Halvorson, Julia Hamilton, Dominique Hawkins, Christopher Johnson, |
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Allison Kesseler, Michael Marucci, Kenneth McIntyre, Lauren |
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Meents, Devin Miranda Pallares, Matthew Murdoch, Siddhi Patodia, |
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MiaMarie Pugh, Abigael Romero, Lindsey Schmalriede, Jena |
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Seidemann, Jordyn Senkirik, Stephen Shuchart, Valentina Tovar, |
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Taryn Woody, and Cassidy Zgabay; 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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service to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th 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. |