September 2011 - Iowa Pork Producers Association

Caitlin goes
to Washington
Caitlin Lawrence got a first-hand look at the nation’s
political process this summer and she feels the experience
will help her decide her future career path.
The University of Iowa junior served as the legislative
intern at the Iowa Pork Producers Association and spent
her first six weeks of the summer working in the office of
Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin in Washington, D.C.
A political science and history major, Lawrence had an
assortment of duties in Washington, from serving as a
Capitol tour guide to reserving softball fields.
She primarily worked with Harkin’s agriculture staff
and legislative assistants on research and legislative
correspondence.
“I looked into what the animal welfare community was doing
and if it had any big proposition two-like issues coming up
and what ag was doing and if it had any upcoming initiatives
that the senator should be aware of,” Lawrence said. “I was
basically keeping the senator informed.”
“It was wonderful to be surrounded by people who
are so passionate about what they are doing,” she said.
While she learned a lot, Lawrence says she now has
greater respect for America’s political
process.
“When you get frustrated with the
government because you feel like it’s not
working, it is. It has to work a lot to get
something done. I knew government
took a long time, but watching them
go through the details, it makes sense
why things are so slow. So you can get
frustrated, but I feel more confident in
a piece of legislation now knowing that
it’s been in hands that are caring for it
each step of the way.”
One of the highlights of her time in Washington was getting
to watch Harkin speak on the floor of the Senate during the
debate on ethanol subsidies, which were voted down.
“It was really cool to watch the office go ‘Okay, we were for
this, but it lost. What do we do now?’” she said.
The Ames native believes it was a valuable experience
because she was able to test her political science and history
knowledge and how much she knew and didn’t know.
“Legislation is one area I’m really interested in,” she said.
“Getting to give Capitol tours, I thought the history of
the politics was really interesting. Ideally, I’d like to work
in Washington, but I’m not entirely sure I’m ready to say
Sen. Caitlin Lawrence because [elected officials] have to
do a lot of work.”
Lawrence says she was impressed by how much Harkin’s
staff cares about working for the people of Iowa and their
issues and getting it right.
16 SEPTEMBER 2011