Emily Spiers
Since it has just passed over into the New Year, I thought I would send you an update as to some of the things I have done thus far working in Congress!!
Since I have finished my last chunk of my mahi for Congress It's about time for an update on my goings on in Congress.
Working in Congressman Tom Cole's office has been a very eye-opening experience in my understanding of Native American issues and partisan politics. I have really enjoyed my day-to- day activities as an intern as they all supplement my learning well. My daily work consists of collating a daily folder of press releases on current American issues that get sent to the congressman, answering phone calls from constituents, and doing a variety of different tasks relating to Native American Issues. This has involved taking notes and making memos on legislative hearings on Native American bills, compiling a vote database on how important members of congress voted on Native American issues and sitting in on meetings with tribes and lobbyists to discuss any issues they are facing.
The office has shown me a lot of hospitality and has made me feel at home. My first day at Congress involved learning the basic in-and-outs of my intern work and I was lucky enough to spend the rest of the afternoon talking with my congressman about Native American rights and comparisons with New Zealand as well as general political talk for 3 hours. I'm told very few interns have shown a genuine interest in tribal issues so my enthusiasm for the topic is a breath of fresh air in the office. Sofia, our office Native American Affairs Legislative Assistant, was very keen to have an intern to finally assist her with some of her work.
At the moment there are a few big issues that are facing Native Americans nowadays:
Mr Coles Office have been working to address issues 1 and 3. All tribes within the state of Oklahoma have already been federally recognised.
This has been a very interesting time to be working in Congress with the GOP primary candidates being in amongst debates, Trump's court issues, border control issues and the ousting and election of a new speaker of the House. Needless to say, there has been much to discuss within the office and hearing their perspectives on the political chaos that is ensuing.
Overall I've made some pretty strong connections here in D.C. and further abroad and believe I've represented New Zealand well. My supervisors said I was very eager to learn, caught onto work quickly and was a joy to have in the office. I even got a little leaving party on my last day of work! Mr Cole particularly enjoyed seeing another Indigenous person so interested in Native American affairs and will look forward to hearing what I get up to in the future and make sure to drop in the next time I am around D.C.
Some more informal highlights of my trip include: Seeing The Book of Mormon on Broadway, visiting the most southern point in the US continent, getting to see "Starry Night" and "The Persistence of Memory" in the flesh, visiting multiple museums on Native American History in D.C., New York and Boston and seeing one of my favourite bands, LCD Soundsystem, live.
I am currently embarking on a two week tour around the States. I have started at the Key West and am travelling through Miami, Orlando, Nashville, Philadelphia, Oklahoma, Chicago. I've made a few friends over my time here who have places in these parts of US that I'm staying (saves us some money)! I'm particularly looking forward to Oklahoma, where I will be going to the reservations of Osage and Chickasaw, and visiting some historical Native American Sites.
Since it has just passed over into the New Year, I thought I would send you an update as to some of the things I have done thus far working in Congress!!
I have been lucky enough to be in an office that prioritises real life work, rather than administrative tasks. I have worked on real legislation, such as my Congressman's Passport Amendment Bill, and bills strengthening relationships in the Indian Ocean Region; drafted letters from the Congressman to send out to constituents and have taken notes in hearings for staffers alike. These hearings have included Anti-Semitism throughout College Campuses, Second-Amendment furthering Women's Rights, and Foreign Affairs hearings on the Israel-Gaza conflict and the Southern Border Crisis. I have also been able to provide the Congressman support with TV interviews, with meetings with foreign dignitaries or other Members of Congress, and through answering constituent phone calls and logging those messages for our staffers to work with.
Outside of work, I have been to almost every Smithsonian Museum, visited Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York, with plans to go back to New York after my time in Congress. I have toured the Washington Monument, the Lincoln, and Jefferson Memorials, and have visited Arlington Cemetery, and have a White House tour scheduled for Friday. I have also been lucky enough to have completed two tours of the Capitol Dome, which is not open to the public, and have even been to the Supreme Court to watch a case play out, with all 9 Justices present.
I am exhausted! But so incredibly grateful for all the amazing things I have been able to witness since arriving here at such an interesting time in American Politics. I even got to enter the press circle for George Santos' final press conference and saw the debate and vote that kicked him out and was even lucky enough to be on the Senate floor during a vote!
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