During my second week, I had the opportunity to introduce myself to Senator Grassley over the phone! It was such an honor to be able to speak with the Senator! During this time, I informed Senator Grassley that I am going to be interning at the Davenport state office for a portion of the summer.
Earlier this week, I listened in on a conference call that was hosted by the United States Postal Service (USPS). Among the many things that I learned, I found it really interesting to truly understand how far the USPS has come since it was founded in 1775. This year is specifically a major milestone for the agency, as it marks the 250th anniversary! Various new stamps have already been released to celebrate this benchmark, and in particular, three of these stamps were designed to honor the United States Navy, Marine Corp, and Army.
After reading through the The Quad City Times every morning for the past two weeks, I feel like I know so much more about local news and events! In an edition from this week, I found out that Amazon is opening up another facility in Davenport, Iowa. The first facility was opened three years ago and employs a couple thousand people. The new location will be specialized in packaging and delivering products to consumers. Amazon is more than just same-day or two-day deliveries. The company’s commitment to Davenport truly represents an investment in the city’s economy, as many employment opportunities have been created between the two facilities! This truly demonstrates how even large corporations can have a significant influence on cities like Davenport!
This past week, I attended a local union event with my supervisor called “Build the QC.” Premised on careers in construction, this event celebrated different types of trades and the goal of building a new generation of young skilled workers. In a speech that was given, skilled trades were emphasized as a debt-free and promising future. In attendance were various representatives for local companies, as well as local engineers, architects, and congressional representatives or staff members (me!). During the main event speech, I was recognized as a representative for Senator Grassley. Additionally, there was live music and appetizers.
Having a Good Time at “Build the QC”
Throughout my first two weeks in the office, I have spent a considerable amount of time learning where Senator Grassley stands on certain topics and issues. In order to learn more about what the Senator thinks about a certain topic, I listen to his floor speeches, various news clips, and interviews. Additionally, I find myself reading through the Senator’s press releases. Since I am interning in an official’s office, it is important for me to not only be familiar with current news and politics, but to also be knowledgeable about where Senator Grassley stands on certain issues and news. Conducting this research also helps me to keep up with current legislation. This past week, the 2025 budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and is now on its way to the Senate.
While I typically pack a lunch to eat at the office, I forgot to do so on Tuesday. As a result, I figured I would explore more of Davenport and eat somewhere I had never been before! After a quick Google search, I decided to go to a restaurant down the street called Tiphanie’s. Since it was just down the street, I decided to walk there. The food ended up being really good, and I ordered a steak, egg, and potato hash. While there, I discovered that the restaurant competed on a national food network in a cookie baking contest! Not only is it a restaurant, but Tiphanie’s is also a bakery and a bar.
The Interior of Tiphanie’s; A Steak, Egg & Potato Hash with Caramelized Onions
It is crazy how much information and work translates directly from the classroom into the real world. Previously in this blog, I mentioned how I conducted research to learn more about Senator Grassley and his opinion on certain topics. This research has reminded me of the case study that I did on House Representative Greg Stuebe in my American Political Institutions course. This class has taught me how to analyze press releases, search for relevant news, and conduct proper research to learn more about legislation. Additionally, during this course, we discussed the importance of constituent communication and representation. However, when an individual like Senator Grassley is responsible for an entire state, it is impossible to be everywhere at once. Consequently, representatives will often have their team travel to local events that they themselves cannot attend. I think that Build the QC is a clear example of an event like this. As I continue to spend more time learning about local/national politics, and constituent services, I am becoming more confident that some type of public service is the right career path for me!
I work on the 7th Floor of this Building!; On My Way to Work!