**Due to the August state work period, audio for this week’s column is unavailable**

Every year my office welcomes new interns, both in Nebraska and on Capitol Hill. Throughout my time in the Senate, the interns who have served in my office have proven to be invaluable. They are often the first person you meet when Nebraskans come to share their opinions with me. Their assistance helps me better serve our state.

In Lincoln, Kearney, Scottsbluff, and Omaha, our interns join with permanent staff to help find solutions to issues affecting Nebraskans. Eric Kros, of Omaha who interns in my Omaha office, for example, said that his “internship was a good way to bridge my interest in politics with my desire to serve Nebraska.” JB Davis, also from Omaha, agreed with Eric. He told me he enjoyed “interning with and learning from many wonderful people dedicated to making sure the voice of Nebraska is heard in Washington.”

Our interns didn’t just answer phones or grab coffees, they went out and did real work in our communities. Those experiences, Alex Kuszak from Lincoln, told me were “unlike any other.” He particularly enjoyed one of the most fun projects our office has done. He said his “favorite part of the internship has been working with the Veteran’s History Project, interviewing veterans, and helping tell their stories so that generations to come can look back and understand the sacrifices made by those who came before them.”

I recently had the honor of sharing Alex’s work with the Library of Congress. His interviews with veterans will be archived so future generations can learn from Nebraskans who served in war.

In Washington, our interns are the ones who first answer your calls, lead tours of the Capitol, and process requests for flags flown over the U.S. Capitol. Amanda Kowalewski, from Gothenburg, said interning in Washington gave her a chance to “be in the trenches” of our public policy debates, and Justus Hanson, from Kearney, explained, “It has been so rewarding to know that the work we do here every day is being done to serve this nation and the great people of Nebraska.” Along with Molly Abboud from Omaha, they both agreed that interning gave them the opportunity to serve others.

All of my interns have helped me better serve Nebraska. At our weekly Nebraska Breakfast, which occurs every Wednesday when both the House and Senate are in session, all of the Nebraska delegation used some of their time to personally thank their interns. I’d like to use this space to thank them, as well. They have worked tirelessly to assist the people of our state this summer. I hope they learned a lot from their experiences and trust they found serving the state of Nebraska to be as rewarding as I find it to be.                                          

Internships are available throughout the year in my Washington, D.C. and Nebraska offices. We are always looking for Nebraska college students who are interested in serving their community. I encourage all Nebraskans who are interested to apply for this opportunity to learn more about our government and the legislative process. Details about the application process can be found on my website.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.