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“THE CHARLES B. RANGEL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1790 on Sept. 21, 2006.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE CHARLES B. RANGEL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM
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HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL
of new york
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to share with my colleagues the presence in the House of the participants in an important and exciting program today, The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program, and to welcome these extraordinary young people to their period of service in the Congress. The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship Program was initiated from my desire that the State Department's Diplomatic Corps abroad would reflect the rich diversity represented by the American people at home. The program presents young adults from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to learn, participate, and become a part of the United States' diplomatic corps.
This program is a successful collaboration between the Congress, the State department, and Howard University, which administers the program with a cross-section of colleges and universities across the country. Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell introduced the program on May 17, 2002 at a State Department ceremony and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has expressed her profound support for continuing and expanding this initiative.
In the last 2 years, the components of the Rangel Program were reviewed and evaluated by the State Department and were found to satisfy the stringent requirement for inclusion in the Department's prestigious Diplomacy Fellows Program. This milestone achievement has included the program in the distinguished ranks of such programs as the Presidential Management Interns, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Boren, Fascell, and Pickering Fellows Programs. As a result, fellows who successfully complete the Rangel Program and the State Department requirements will automatically receive employment offers and appointments to the Foreign Service.
In addition, I would like to personally welcome the 2006 Charles B. Rangel Fellows to Capitol Hill. We currently have Jacob Choi, a graduate of Brigham Young University, who will attend Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in the Fall, serving Rep. Eliot Engel's office; Christopher Hartfield, a graduate of Stanford University, who will attend Tuft's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the Fall, serving in Rep. Adam B. Schiff's office; Teresa Williamson a graduate of Dillard University who will attend Yale University in the Fall, serving in Rep. Donald M. Payne's office; Sara Marti a graduate of the University of Central Florida who will attend the University of Denver's School of International Studies, serving in Rep. Jose E. Serrano's office; Chansonett Hall, a graduate of Penn State University, who will attend the University of Pittsburgh's School of Public and International Affairs serving in Rep. Gregory W. Meeks' office; Yehia Hanan, a graduate of Howard University, who will attend Georgetown University's School of Public Policy, serving in Sen. Joseph R. Biden's office; Marcus Jackson, a graduate of Florida A&M University who is serving in Rep. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega's office; Paloma Gonzalez, a graduate of Lewis and Clark College, who will attend Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, serving in Rep. Barbara Lee's office; and Brandon Jackson, a graduate of Cornell University, who will also attend Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, serving in my office.
I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. I have read each and every single one of your bios and I am extremely impressed with all of your diverse areas of study and accomplishments. I know your experience on the Hill will be an invaluable help to you in the Foreign Service.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues and friends for the invaluable experiences that they are providing and for personally hosting a Rangel Fellow in their offices. The experiences to be obtained during their time in the House of Representatives will provide insight that is a special and unique part of this program. This Capitol Hill exposure and experience will be particularly useful as they enter the State Department as junior Foreign Service Officers. Thank you for the wonderful opportunities that you are providing this summer.
I am extremely proud of this program and its contribution to the country. I believe that in America, diversity is our strength. With our Nation's growing international involvement, there could be no better time than now to attract the very best, the brightest, and the most diverse talent available to represent the American people and champion our interests in every comer of the globe.
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