Rep. Lofgren Introduces Congressional Clerkship Bill
Program Mirrors Judicial and Executive Branch Clerkships
January 7, 2009
Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) todayre-introduced legislation to create the Daniel Webster CongressionalClerkship Program. Named after the noted American orator andlegislator, the program would give highly qualified law schoolgraduates the option of serving in either House or Senate offices.Eligible candidates would be evenly divided between minority andmajority, with the program being managed by the Committee on HouseAdministration and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.The program, which is similar to those in both the Executive andJudicial Branches, gives talented young legal professionals anopportunity to participate first hand in the legislative process. TheHouse of Representatives unanimously passed an identical measure in theprevious Congress.
"The Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program would allow ourfuture leaders an early opportunity to serve in Congress," noted Rep.Zoe Lofgren. "Many of our nation's greatest leaders served as lawclerks early in their careers. This legislation would simply putCongress on par with both the Executive and Judicial Branches whoalready offer clerkships to exemplary young lawyers. I'd like to thankSenator Schumer for his support and for introducing a companion measurein the United States Senate. I'd also like to acknowledge theco-sponsorship and support of my fellow Californian Rep. Dan Lungren(R-CA)."
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren is serving her seventh term in Congressrepresenting most of the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County. Sheserves as Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration,Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. She alsoChairs the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections and serves onthe House Homeland Security Committee. Congresswoman Lofgren is Chairof the California Democratic Congressional Delegation consisting of 34Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia.
