Worcester, Mass. - The many summer interns who populate the nation's Capitol each summer can count on getting plenty of mental and physical exercise. For Sam Reznik, it's been a kind of marathon. The Clark University junior has been working for esteemed veteran lawmakers Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA).Beyond answering phones and leading the expected Capitol Building tours, Reznik has served offices in both the Rayburn House and the Hart Senate Building—at opposite corners of Capitol Hill. Feinstein and Waxman each chair powerful and busy committees. "It has been an incredible experience learning the ways of our government from the inside," Reznik says.
Reznik, who is from Encino, CA, assisted the deputy scheduler in Senator Feinstein's office, crafting the Senator's personal schedule and referring meeting requests to her legislative staff. "My responsibilities in that office varied from writing memos on issues such as gang violence and immigration reform used to brief the Senator to running errands to the Democratic Cloak Room located on the Senate Floor," he said. For his legislative assignment, Reznik worked in Feinstein's Judiciary Committee office in the subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security, which she chairs.
"Sam was a great intern in my Washington, D.C. office. He was assigned to assist my Judiciary Committee staff with their legislative research, and to help in the scheduling department. He was reliable and efficient in these fast-paced areas. He continually excelled in the projects that he was assigned," said Senator Feinstein. "Sam stood out among a group of highly-qualified individuals who interned in my office this summer. Sam is very professional and has an enthusiastic attitude. I know he'll succeed in the future."
Reznik is currently interning in Congressman Waxman's subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement, which is part of the committee Waxman chairs on Oversight and Government Reform. Reznik conducts research for upcoming committee hearings and then summarizes findings into a memo that goes to the staff director and chief counsel of the subcommittee. His work thus far in Rep. Waxman's office has ranged from Bechtel National, Inc.'s "fiasco" concerning the cleanup of contaminated nuclear waste in Hanford, Washington, to the Department of Homeland Security's Credentialing Program.
"Overall, the feeling of working for the very people who uphold justice and the law is just a great feeling," he says. "Both Senator Feinstein and Representative Waxman are true political heroes of mine and having the opportunity to work for them has been a surreal experience."
Reznik cites his most memorable highlights so far: "I had the honor of meeting Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton when they were testifying at a Judiciary committee hearing examining the federal role to work with communities to prevent and respond to gang violence: The Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007. Prior to the start of another Judiciary hearing, I had the privilege of meeting and talking with another political hero of mine, Senator (Edward) Kennedy (D-MA)."
A Dean's List student and member of Clark's Class of 2009, Reznik majors in Government & International Relations, with a concentration in Urban Development and Social Change. He is also on The National Dean's List 2006-2007. His other activities include Democrats of Clark U, Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND), Community Action Reform Education (CARE), and Clark Hockey Assistant.
"The exposure I received to the inner workings of our government has helped me gain a more robust understanding of the American government," he says.
Reznik is the son of Benjamin and Janice Reznik, of Encino, and is a 2005 graduate of Milken Community High School, Los Angeles.