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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Thirty-five Texas A&M University students are |
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| 6 | 7 | | providing valuable support to the 84th Texas Legislature while |
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| 7 | 8 | | gaining experience in public service as members of the Agricultural |
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| 8 | 9 | | and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program and the Public |
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| 9 | 10 | | Policy Internship Program; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, For two and a half decades, the Agricultural and |
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| 11 | 12 | | Natural Resources Policy Internship Program has sent student |
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| 12 | 13 | | interns to Austin and Washington, D.C., where they work on a wide |
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| 13 | 14 | | array of issues; their strong background and interest in |
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| 14 | 15 | | agriculture and natural resources allow them to offer specialized |
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| 15 | 16 | | knowledge to legislators; the program was founded in response to a |
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| 16 | 17 | | request by a member of the United States Congress for an intern who |
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| 17 | 18 | | could assist his office with these matters, and it has since grown |
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| 18 | 19 | | to include numerous congressional offices as well as the United |
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| 19 | 20 | | States House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, the |
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| 20 | 21 | | United States Department of Agriculture, and offices on the state |
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| 21 | 22 | | level during legislative years; approximately 800 students have |
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| 22 | 23 | | participated in semester-long internships; and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, The Public Policy Internship Program, established |
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| 24 | 25 | | in 1999, works with various colleges and departments to create an |
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| 25 | 26 | | interdisciplinary environment for comprehensive academic training, |
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| 26 | 27 | | research, and policy programming; interns in the nation's capital |
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| 27 | 28 | | and in Austin serve in a variety of settings that align with their |
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| 28 | 29 | | academic and professional goals; some 600 students have |
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| 29 | 30 | | participated in semester-long internships; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Led by director Stephanie McMillen, both internship |
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| 31 | 32 | | programs select their highly qualified and dedicated participants |
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| 32 | 33 | | through a rigorous application process; in addition to academic |
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| 33 | 34 | | achievement, students must demonstrate their potential to take full |
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| 34 | 35 | | advantage of the opportunities for scholarly and professional |
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| 35 | 36 | | development as well as the desire to serve our state and nation; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, The 2015 Texas A&M University policy interns serving |
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| 37 | 38 | | in Austin are Angela Avila, Wayne Beckermann, Demeris Burritt, |
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| 38 | 39 | | Stephen Cain, Joshua Caniglia, Justin Cantu, William Carey, Erin |
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| 39 | 40 | | Carney, Katherine Diaz, Ainslie Ellis, Nicole ElMurr, Lauren |
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| 40 | 41 | | Felder, Marcus Garcia, Angelo Gonzalez, Taylor Hartmann, Miranda |
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| 41 | 42 | | Heck, Ashley Hielscher, Elin Isenhower, Ross Johnson, Jaret King, |
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| 42 | 43 | | Julia Lancaster, Andrew Lindinger, Kade Long, Madeline McLean, |
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| 43 | 44 | | Lauren Mehalic, Sarah Narvaiz, Carla Pelcastre, Zain Pleuthner, |
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| 44 | 45 | | Quinn Qian, Jami Sims, Molly Smith, Joshua Vasquez, Samantha |
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| 45 | 46 | | Wallace, Ke'Shantenal Wallace, and Vanisha Weatherspoon; and |
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| 46 | 47 | | WHEREAS, Through the years, the Agricultural and Natural |
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| 47 | 48 | | Resources Policy and Public Policy Internship Programs have helped |
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| 48 | 49 | | exceptional students deepen their understanding of governmental |
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| 49 | 50 | | operations while developing professional skills and networks, and |
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| 50 | 51 | | alumni have gone on to make vital contributions and assume |
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| 51 | 52 | | leadership roles in a variety of arenas; the outstanding young |
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| 52 | 53 | | people who are giving of their time and talents throughout this |
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| 53 | 54 | | legislative session can indeed take pride in their achievements and |
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| 54 | 55 | | service to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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| 55 | 56 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 56 | 57 | | Legislature hereby recognize the Texas A&M University Agricultural |
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| 57 | 58 | | and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program and the Public |
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| 58 | 59 | | Policy Internship Program and commend the current participants for |
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| 59 | 60 | | their diligence and commitment; and, be it further |
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| 60 | 61 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 61 | 62 | | prepared for the students as an expression of high regard from the |
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| 62 | 63 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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