Castro Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Pay State Department Interns

Press Release

Today, February 18th, 2021, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, reintroduced his bipartisan legislation guaranteeing financial support and paid internships at the U.S. State Department. The Department of State Student Internship Program Act would require internships at the State Department to be compensated and authorizes the Department to provide housing and travel for individuals who are interning far from their place of residence. This legislation will make the prestigious internship opportunities at the State Department more accessible to young people of all backgrounds, contributing to ongoing efforts both to pay interns for their work and to create a more diverse pipeline of American diplomats.

"As we rebuild our infrastructure for diplomacy, we must ensure that we are creating real opportunities for young people regardless of their background to gain valuable experience and start careers in diplomacy and foreign policy," said Congressman Joaquin Castro. "This commonsense legislation will make internships at the State Department fairer, more rewarding, and more open to all, and is a crucial part of my focus on ensuring American diplomats reflect the diversity of the American people."

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