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Last summer, I joined a team of more than 30 interns from colleges and universities all across the country at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is the world’s largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions.
In my division, Political Affairs and Federation Relations, I was exposed to issues affecting our country, from health care policy to legal reform to the energy crisis. Although I was already aware of these issues as a government and law major, my weeks spent at the U.S. Chamber considerably broadened my knowledge. Matters that I was far less familiar with were trade, enterprise, and the growing economic crisis.
My experiences at the U.S. Chamber quickly brought me up to speed with the economic challenges we are facing as a nation. I attended numerous briefings where local and state chambers came to D.C. to express their concerns for the future of the economy and the effect on their businesses. I also had the opportunity to hear the U.S. Chamber’s policy experts discuss and offer solutions and strategies to deal with these issues.
The soaring gas prices of this past summer amplified the concern for America’s energy future. This was definitely evident in many of the briefings I attended, as visiting chambers of commerce frequently had energy policy at the top of their lists. At a briefing held for the Texas Association of Business, I had the opportunity to hear Under Secretary of the Department of Energy Bud Albright discuss alternative energy sources and share his hope for America’s energy future. Albright addressed not only the future of nuclear energy and technology, but also how green energy, like wind and solar power, are essential to America’s energy independence.
The Political Affairs and Federation Relations division was also responsible for organizing a grassroots initiative project, Friends of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This project was created with the intent of raising political awareness and participation. One of the distinguishing features is that citizens from any walk of life can become involved. The grassroots initiative, in particular, aims to engage our nation’s youth demographic.
My internship at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce provided me with a better understanding of political processes. I had the opportunity to see, firsthand, people lobby and express concerns for their businesses and their communities and their efforts to relay that message back to Capitol Hill. To be sure, the process isn’t perfect, and our country’s problems certainly cannot be solved overnight. But my time spent in Washington reassured me that our political system does in fact depend upon the active participation of all of its citizens.