Senator Blumenthal Intern Guide

RichaRd Blumenthal
U.S. SENATOR for CONNECTICUT
INTERN GUIDE

taBle of contents
1 Table of Contents
3 Introductory Letter
4 First Week Checklist
7 Office Reminders
9 Meet Senator Blumenthal
11 Senate Schedule
12 About Connecticut
14 A History of the Senate
16 Officers of the Senate
17 Senate and House Committees
18 D.C. Staff Job Descriptions
20 Senate Services Information
25 Internship Tips
27 Check-In Quad Chart – Stories
29 Check-In Quad Chart
31 Memorandum
33 SMART Goals
35 Mid-Semester Feedback
37 Exit Interview
39 End of Internship Checklist
41 Confidentiality Agreement
43 Individual Certificate of Completion of Ethics Training
45 Individual Certificate of Completion of Anti-Harrassment Training
45 Individual Certificate of Completion of Escape Hood and Emergency
Equipment Training
49 Notes
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intRoductoRy letteR
Welcome,
Today marks the beginning of an internship of public service, education,
and teamwork. Each of you has emerged from the internship application
process as an outstanding candidate and a welcome addition to my office.
In the months ahead, I anticipate that you will work hard, stay focused,
and make meaningful contributions to the work of our staff.
In return, you should have your own high expectations for this internship.
The Senate Ethics Manual clearly states that Senate internship programs
are “primarily for the educational benefit” of the participants. My office
and I take this directive very seriously. You are giving us your time and
energy, and we intend to reciprocate by offering you a rich, dynamic
experience that will teach you about the work of a United States Senator.
You will have access to a series of guest speakers and special events, but
the largest share of your education will come from the work itself. The
more you invest of yourself in each project to which you are assigned,
the more you ask questions, and the more you tackle every challenge, the
more you will gain from your internship experience.
Please take time to introduce yourself to the members of my staff and
to the other interns. Ask any and all questions, offer suggestions, share
ideas, state opinions, and debate your views. Never hesitate to talk with
your intern coordinator or other staff members about your internship
and remember to enjoy your time here. You will be rewarded throughout
the internship if you approach each day with a solid work ethic, upbeat
attitude, and sense of discovery.
Sincerely,
RICHARD BLUMENTHAL
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FIRST WEEK CHECKLIST
ADMINISTRATIVE
☐ Obtain intern ID badge
☐ Complete and return the Confidentiality Agreement
☐ Office tour
☐ Complete and submit the Check-In Quad Chart – Stories for Friday’s check-in
INTERNAL TRAININGS
☐ Watch the Senate Code of Official Conduct (ethics) video and complete and return the
corresponding form
☐ Watch the Senate Anti-Harassment Training video and complete and return the
corresponding form
☐ Complete the online cybersecurity training
☐ Watch the mail procedures video and physical mail training
☐ Phone training
☐ IQ training with Anthony and Emily
☐ Voicemail training
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EXTERNAL TRAININGS
☐ Attend Escape Hood and Emergency Equipment training and complete and return the
corresponding form
☐ Capitol Tour training
☐ Complete Senate Library Intern Orientation
☐ Complete CRS Orientation for Interns
MISCELLANEOUS
☐ Obtain phone numbers for other interns and supervisor
☐ Scavenger Hunt
☐ Have fun!
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OFFICE REMINDERS
OFFICIAL RESOURCES
Senate equipment and supplies are for official business use only, including your
Senate computer, phone, and email. The office reserves the right to monitor all
office accounts and internet usage when deemed necessary.
DRESS CODE
The office’s dress code is business formal. For men, this means a suit or sports
coat with a tie; for women, this means a suit or suit-equivalent dresses and
skirts (be mindful of length and fit). Jeans, sneakers, open-toed shoes, cargo
pants, and other casual clothing are not permitted. If you have questions about
work-appropriate attire, please ask.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRESS POLICY
We expect you to maintain a professional presence online, including on all
of your social media accounts, and maintain the confidentiality of this office.
Should you publicize or discuss private information regarding the office of
Senator Blumenthal, constituents, the senator, or staff outside this office, you
will be asked to leave your position immediately. Any writing you wish to
submit (such as to blogs or alumni journals) must be approved in its final
form by the Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director. Under
no circumstances are you permitted to speak with reporters about policy or
internal office matters.
POLITICS AND CAMPAIGN POLICY
Under no circumstances are you permitted to discuss or engage in politics or
campaigning on Senate grounds.
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MEET SENATOR BLUMENTHAL
Originally sworn in on January 5, 2011, Richard Blumenthal is serving his second term as a United States
Senator from the State of Connecticut.
Senator Blumenthal served an unprecedented five terms as Connecticut’s Attorney General, fighting for
people against large and powerful special interests. His aggressive law enforcement for consumer protection,
environmental stewardship, labor rights, and personal privacy has helped reshape the role of state attorneys
general nationwide and resulted in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for Connecticut taxpayers
and consumers each year.
A key player in the national fight against Big Tobacco, he helped bring an end to deceptive marketing aimed at
children–a victory significantly lowering youth smoking rates, and compelling a multi-billion dollar settlement
for Connecticut taxpayers. He also helped lead a coalition of all 50 states that culminated in historic agreements
with social networking sites to better protect children from Internet predators.
As Attorney General, he advocated for reforms in the health insurance industry to assure critical health care
coverage and lower pharmaceutical drug prices. He has worked relentlessly to eradicate corruption in state
government and make state contracting accountable, fair, honest, and transparent.
His vigorous investigation and legal action against insurance industry abuses has successfully forced financial
restitution and reform, compelled greater disclosure by insurers and brokers to consumers, and recovered
millions of dollars for the state, municipalities, and individuals. He has successfully fought unfair utility rate
charges, air pollution causing acid rain, and general environmental wrongdoing, as well as a wide array of
consumer scams and frauds.
Senator Blumenthal has personally argued several major cases in court, including his successful effort to uphold
the Connecticut sex offender registry in the Supreme Court. He has fought and sued the federal government
for failing to follow or enforce environmental laws and energy statutes, as well as imposing multimillion dollar
unfunded mandates on local taxpayers under the No Child Left Behind Act.
From 1977 to 1981, Senator Blumenthal served as a U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, prosecuting drug trafficking,
organized and white collar crime, civil rights violations, consumer fraud, and environmental pollution. He
served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1984 to 1987, and the Connecticut State Senate from
1987 to 1990. As a volunteer attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Senator Blumenthal saved the life
of an innocent, wrongly convicted death row inmate who came within hours of execution.
Prior to his position as U.S. Attorney, Senator Blumenthal also served as Administrative Assistant to U.S.
Senator Abraham A. Ribicoff, aide to former U.S. Senator Daniel P. Moynihan when Moynihan was Assistant to
the President of the United States, and law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun.
Senator Blumenthal graduated from Harvard College (Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude) and Yale Law
School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Law Journal. From 1970 to 1976 he served in the United
States Marine Corps Reserves and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant.
Senator Blumenthal lives in Connecticut with his wife, Cynthia, and their four children.
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SENATE SCHEDULE
2020 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
JOHN THUNE
Majority Whip
DICK DURBIN
Democratic Whip
UNITED STATES SENATE
116 TH CONGRESS, 2 ND SESSION
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
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JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER
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OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
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: Indicates Senate not in session
: Indicates Senate in session
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About Connecticut
ADMISSION TO STATEHOOD:
JANUARY 9, 1788 (5TH)
FOUNDING:
THOMAS HOOKER IN 1936
HARTFORD
STATE ABBREVIATION: CT
STATE CAPITOL: HARTFORD
LARGEST CITY: BRIDGEPORT
BRIDGEPORT
POPULATION: 3.6 MILLION
(2019 ESTIMATE, 6TH MOST DENSELY POPULATED STATE)
STATE MOTTO:
“QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET” (HE WHO TRANSPLANTED STILL SUSTAINS)
STATE NICKNAMES: CONSTITUTION STATE, NUTMEG STATE,
PROVISIONS STATE, LAND OF STEADY HABITS
DEMONYMS: NUTMEGGER, CONNECTICUTIAN, CONNECTICUTER
NUMBER OF COUNTIES: 8
CONNECTICUT AREA CODES: 203, 860, 475
STATE SONG: YANKEE DOODLE DANDY
STATE BIRD: AMERICAN ROBIN
STATE FLOWER: MOUNTAIN LAUREL
STATE STATUES IN THE US CAPITOL:
ROGER SHERMAN AND JONATHAN TRUMBULL
FUN FACTS
Connecticut is home to the OLDEST
U.S. NEWSPAPER still published: The
Hartford Courant, established in 1764.
PEZ® CANDY is made in the city of
Orange, CT.
West Hartford is THE BIRTHPLACE
OF NOAH WEBSTER, the author of
the first dictionary.
THE FIRST AUTOMOBILE LAW
was passed by the state in 1901. It set the
speed limit at 12 miles per hour.
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State flag of Connecticut.
Mountain Laurels, the state
flower of Connecticut.
An American Robin, the state
bird of Connecticut.
Connecticut NEVER RATIFIED the 18th
Amendment (Prohibition).
THE USS NAUTILUS, the world's first
nuclear powered submarine, was built in
Groton, CT, in 1954.
Connecticut is home to the FIRST
HAMBURGER (1895), POLAROID
CAMERA (1934), HELICOPTER
(1939), and COLOR TELEVISION
(1948).
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RichaRd Blumenthal
U.S. SENATOR for CONNECTICUT