House Democrats issued guidance to lawmakers Tuesday allowing them to use up to $20,000 a year from a new fund to pay interns and to reimburse them for expenses they incur. The new rules also define the interns in the congressional handbook and lay out the ethical standards they must abide by. The rules are only interim guidance and will be refined as more offices take advantage of the program,
Most interns on Capitol Hill work for free, but that will finally change after years of backlash. On Tuesday, the House Administration Committee gave its final approval for a program that will pay Capitol Hill interns. Congress initially voted to instate the funding six months ago, and both legislative chambers are now set to give stipends to young workers. The new program provides $14 million for intern payments that will be distributed across
House offices now have guidance, however brief, on how to implement paid internships in their offices with the inaugural funding provided specifically for that purpose. The House Administration Committee approved a resolution Tuesday afternoon by voice vote that outlines “interim regulations governing House paid internships.” A spending bill signed into law in in September included $8.8 million to pay interns in the House. Each office was allocated $20,000 in a newly created