Córdova Congressional Internship Program
Encyclopedia
The Córdova/Fernós Congressional Internship Program is a publicly-funded internship program created in 1993 through legislation authored by then Puerto Rico senator and current Secretary of State
Kenneth McClintock
and signed into law by Gov. Pedro Rosselló
. Administered by a joint committee of the Puerto Rico Legislature and run by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC), the program provides the opportunity every year for 40 college students to experience a semester-long internship in an assigned congressional office of either chamber, in the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration
, or at Telemundo
or Univision
. By law, placement preference is given to the offices of Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner, currently Pedro Pierluisi
(D-PR), and of congressmen of Puerto Rican heritage, including Reps.José Serrano
(D-NY), Luis Gutierrez
(D-IL) and Nydia Velázquez
(D-NY).
Originally named in honor of former Resident Commissioner
s Félix Córdova Dávila
, who served from 1917 to 1932, and his son, Jorge Luis Córdova
-Díaz, who served from 1969 to 1972, the program was renamed as "Córdova/Fernós" to also honor former Resident Commissioner Antonio Fernós Isern. Both Córdovas also served as Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico while Fernós presided Puerto Rico's Constitutional Convention from 1951 to 1952.
By 2010, over 575 students from colleges and universities in Puerto Rico had enjoyed internships under the program, and the Spring 2009 class included a record 24 members.
A private sector committee, recently headed by Univision Puerto Rico president Larry Sands, provides private funds to supplement the $350,000 annual grant provided by the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly.
Under the auspices of TWC, seventeen states have since established similar legislative-funded Congressional internship programs. The Center established in 2008 the McClintock Award to the State Legislator of the Year, honoring Córdova Program founder Kenneth McClintock
, who received the first annual award on December 17, 2008, days before the end of his 28-year legislative career, sixteen as a senator, and the beginning of his service as the U.S. territory's Secretary of State
.
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
and signed into law by Gov. Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...
. Administered by a joint committee of the Puerto Rico Legislature and run by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC), the program provides the opportunity every year for 40 college students to experience a semester-long internship in an assigned congressional office of either chamber, in the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration
Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration
The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration represents the Government of Puerto Rico before federal, state, and local governments, promotes the Governor of Puerto Rico's economic and public policy initiatives to achieve a better quality of life for the four million U.S...
, or at Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
or Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
. By law, placement preference is given to the offices of Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner, currently Pedro Pierluisi
Pedro Pierluisi
Pedro R. Pierluisi Urrutia is a Puerto Rican lawyer and politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico and the United States Democratic Party...
(D-PR), and of congressmen of Puerto Rican heritage, including Reps.José Serrano
José Serrano
José Enrique Serrano is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
(D-NY), Luis Gutierrez
Luis Gutiérrez
Luis Vicente Gutiérrez is an American politician and the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. Gutiérrez was the first Latino to be elected to Congress from the Midwest. From 1986 until his election to Congress he served as a member of the Chicago City Council representing the 26th ward...
(D-IL) and Nydia Velázquez
Nydia Velázquez
Nydia Margarita Velázquez is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes residential areas of three boroughs...
(D-NY).
Originally named in honor of former Resident Commissioner
Resident Commissioner
Resident Commissioner is the title of several, quite different types of Commissioner in overseas possession or protectorate of the British Crown or of the United States.-British English:...
s Félix Córdova Dávila
Félix Córdova Dávila
Félix Lope María Córdova Dávila was a political leader and judge from Puerto Rico who served as Puerto Rico's fourth Resident Commissioner in Congress.-Early years:...
, who served from 1917 to 1932, and his son, Jorge Luis Córdova
Jorge Luis Córdova
Jorge Luis Córdova Díaz served as Puerto Rico's eleventh Resident Commissioner. His father, Félix Córdova Dávila, had served as Puerto Rico's fourth Resident Commissioner from 1917 to 1932....
-Díaz, who served from 1969 to 1972, the program was renamed as "Córdova/Fernós" to also honor former Resident Commissioner Antonio Fernós Isern. Both Córdovas also served as Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico while Fernós presided Puerto Rico's Constitutional Convention from 1951 to 1952.
By 2010, over 575 students from colleges and universities in Puerto Rico had enjoyed internships under the program, and the Spring 2009 class included a record 24 members.
A private sector committee, recently headed by Univision Puerto Rico president Larry Sands, provides private funds to supplement the $350,000 annual grant provided by the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly.
Under the auspices of TWC, seventeen states have since established similar legislative-funded Congressional internship programs. The Center established in 2008 the McClintock Award to the State Legislator of the Year, honoring Córdova Program founder Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
, who received the first annual award on December 17, 2008, days before the end of his 28-year legislative career, sixteen as a senator, and the beginning of his service as the U.S. territory's Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
.
Córdova/Fernós Joint Committee Chairs
- Kenneth McClintockKenneth McClintockKenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
(1993–2000) - José Ortiz DalliotJosé Ortiz DalliotAttorney José Ortiz Dalliot is a former director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration and a former member of the Senate of Puerto Rico....
(2001–2004) - José Garriga Picó (2005)
- Orlando PargaOrlando Parga- Early life:Orlando Parga-Figueroa is a former Senator of Puerto Rico born in Mayaguez and currently resides in Caguas with his wife, Teresita. His father, Orlando Parga Tossas, was a leader of the StatehoodRepublican Party and a right-hand man to SRP leader Miguel A. García Méndez...
(2005–2008) - Margarita Nolasco (2009)
- Melinda Romero DonnellyMelinda Romero DonnellyMelinda Kathleen Romero Donnelly is a Puerto Rican politician, Senator, and former Representative. She is the youngest daughter of former Governor of Puerto Rico Carlos Romero Barceló and Kate Donnelly.-Early years:...
(2009-)
Prominent Córdova/Fernós alumni
- Eduardo Arosemena, Assistant Secretary of State of Puerto Rico (2009-)
- Phillip Arroyo, Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs Assistant to the Secretary of State (2009-), State Chair, Puerto Rico Young Democrats
- Mikhail Blancovitch, National Treasurer of the Puerto Rico Statehood Students AssociationPuerto Rico Statehood Students AssociationThe Puerto Rico Statehood Students Association, Inc. , based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is an American non-profit student organization dedicated to promoting statehood for Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States...
- Joel Cruzado, Judge, Puerto Rico Court of First Instance (2010-)
- José L. Fernández , The Washington Center Córdova/Fernós Program Coordinator (2010-)
- Javier Llano, Legislative Assistant, Puerto Rico Federal Affairs AdministrationPuerto Rico Federal Affairs AdministrationThe Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration represents the Government of Puerto Rico before federal, state, and local governments, promotes the Governor of Puerto Rico's economic and public policy initiatives to achieve a better quality of life for the four million U.S...
(2009-) - Yanira Martínez, Deputy Director, Governor's Federal Affairs Office (2009–2011)
- Marisol Felix Harney, Social Security AdministrationSocial Security AdministrationThe United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits...
, Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, Systems Coordinator, 2004–Present - Joel Montalvo, Executive Assistant to Gov. Aníbal Acevedo ViláAníbal Acevedo ViláAníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the eighth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law,...
(2005–2008) - Joceline Negrón, National Secretary of the Puerto Rico Statehood Students AssociationPuerto Rico Statehood Students AssociationThe Puerto Rico Statehood Students Association, Inc. , based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is an American non-profit student organization dedicated to promoting statehood for Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States...
- José Luis Notario, Chief Legislative Advisor, Senate of Puerto RicoSenate of Puerto RicoThe Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
(2005–2008) - Max Pérez, Public Safety Advisor to Gov. Fortuño (2010–2011), Assistant State Superintendent of Police (2011-)
- Luis Roberto Rivera, Executive Assistant to Gov. Luis FortuñoLuis FortuñoLuis Guillermo Fortuño Burset is the governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States of America. Fortuño is also the president of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico , a member of the Republican National Committee, and will be president of the Council of State...
(2009–10), Asst. Secretary of Housing, Puerto Rico (2010-) - Carlos RodríguezCarlos RodríguezCarlos Rodríguez may refer to:* Carlos Rodriguez , president of the Central Union of Workers, Colombia* Carlos Manuel Rodríguez , beatified Puerto Rican Catholic pastor...
, Legal Counsel to the Governor (2011-) - Luis Román, Assistant Attorney General of Puerto Rico (2009-)
- Steven Santiago, first Córdova intern (spring 1995]], Auditor, Department of Defense
- Edwin R. Viñas López, Capital City of San Juan Attorney, Office of Mayor Jorge A. Santini Padilla (2008-) and Puerto Rico Labor Relations Board Associate Member (2011-).