Press Contacts:
Trevor Smith
comms@payourinterns.com
202-670-7783
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2019
Pay Our Interns and Congressman Tim Ryan Work to Secure an Additional $2.5 Million for Congressional Intern Pay
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, chaired by Rep. Tim Ryan, approved its FY 2020 Appropriations Bill, which includes an additional $2,565,000 for Congressional intern pay. This increases the allowance per Member office from $20,000 to $25,000. The total fund for intern pay now stands at nearly $11,400,000.
“Pay Our Interns is thrilled to have had such a positive impact on Congressional efforts in just the past year,” Carlos Mark Vera, co-founder of Pay Our Interns, said. “There was no doubt that paying interns was the right practice but seeing a 30% pay increase in less than a year is amazing. This increase in funding will create thousands of opportunities for applicants previously unable to intern on the Hill due to financial constraints.”
Subcommittee Chairman Tim Ryan said, “Internships are a valuable means of gaining work experience and opening doors to future employment—and that opportunity shouldn’t be available only to those who can afford to work for free.”
Every year, thousands of young Americans come to Washington to experience life in politics, and those who want to pursue a career in public service look to Congressional internships as an entry point. Ensuring that these opportunities are available to all young adults, regardless of their socioeconomic background, will lead to a more diverse and effective Congress. A Congressional internship program focusing on promoting equitable opportunities will set a positive standard for others to follow, regardless of industry.
“We are seeing a seismic shift in favor of paid internships, not just in Congress, but across the country,” Guillermo Creamer, co-founder of Pay Our Interns, said. “We are witnessing organizations, nonprofits, and even for-profit companies changing their unpaid intern culture. Chairman Ryan’s leadership is greatly appreciated, and without the support of legislators like him, we would not be able to make this a prominent issue. Here at Pay Our Interns, we will continue advocating for interns and serving as a resource for Congress and any other employer.”
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Pay Our Interns is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that advocates for more paid internships and expanding workforce development opportunities among youth. A student’s socioeconomic status should not be a barrier to getting real-world work experience. POI is headquartered in Washington, D.C. For more information visit www.payourinterns.com