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'''Stennis Congressional Staff Fellows Program''' is a Department of State-supported initiative led by the Stennis Center for Public Service that offers a practical, bipartisan leadership development experience to up to 34 senior congressional staff members per Congress across the United States, having trained over 450 fellows since its inception in the 103rd Congress (1993) to bolster legislative capacity and institutional resilience as of 2025. Participants, selected biennially by an independent panel of prior fellows, engage in six roundtable discussions and four retreats over 18 months, crafting their own learning agenda to address future challenges to Congress, with notable alumni like David Pomerantz (106th Congress) shaping Capitol Hill leadership through dialogue with experts from institutions like Princeton and UVA. {{Official URL (simple)|url=https://stennis.gov/stennis-fellows-program/}} ==Goals== * Enhance leadership skills and commitment among senior congressional staff.<ref>"Stennis Congressional Staff Fellows Program," Stennis Center for Public Service, https://stennis.gov/stennis-fellows-program/, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> * Foster bipartisan, bicameral dialogue and networks among legislative leaders. * Strengthen Congress’s institutional capacity to address future challenges. ==Organization== The Stennis Congressional Staff Fellows Program is sponsored by the Stennis Center for Public Service, a legislative branch agency under the Department of State’s public diplomacy framework, headquartered in Starkville, Mississippi, with a Washington, D.C., office.<ref>"Stennis Center Organization," Stennis Center for Public Service, https://stennis.gov/about, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> Funding comes from Congressional appropriations via the Stennis Center’s budget, estimated at $2-3 million annually for FY 2025, managed by a staff of 10-15 coordinating up to 34 fellows per Congress, selected by an independent committee balancing party and chamber representation. The leader at the Department of State level is the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, currently Lee Satterfield (as of February 19, 2025), with the Stennis Center’s Executive Director, Fred Slabach, overseeing operations. ==History== The Stennis Congressional Staff Fellows Program was established in 1993 during the 103rd Congress under the [[John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development Act of 1988]], signed into law on October 1, 1988, as Public Law 100-458, honoring Senator John C. Stennis’s legacy by fostering congressional leadership.<ref>"Stennis Fellows Program History," Stennis Center for Public Service, https://stennis.gov/stennis-fellows-program/, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> It began with its first class in 1993-1994, growing to over 450 fellows by 2025, with key milestones including the 2022 UVA retreat (117th Congress) and 2025’s focus on digital governance challenges, adapting with virtual sessions since 2020. ==Funding== Initial funding in 1993 came from Congressional appropriations establishing the Stennis Center, with a $7.5 million trust fund under Public Law 100-458.<ref>"Stennis Center Funding," U.S. Code Title 2, Chapter 22, https://uscode.house.gov, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> Funding began in 1993 and continues, with FY 2025 estimates at $2-3 million supporting 10-12 events (roundtables and retreats), staff, and logistics, with no end date as appropriations sustain biennial cohorts like the 118th Congress (2023-2025). ==Implementation== The program is implemented through a biennial 18-month cycle, selecting up to 34 fellows who meet every four-to-six weeks for half-day roundtables with experts and attend four overnight retreats outside Washington, D.C., facilitated by the Stennis Center.<ref>"Stennis Fellows Implementation," Stennis Center for Public Service, https://stennis.gov/stennis-fellows-program/, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> It operates continuously with no end date, engaging fellows in self-directed agendas, with 2025 sessions emphasizing legislative technology and bipartisanship, hosted at venues like UVA and the National Conservation Training Center. ==Related== * [[Emerging Congressional Staff Leaders Program]] * [[Congress to Campus]] * [[OSHA Construction Safety and Health Program]] ==External links== * https://stennis.gov/stennis-fellows-program/ * https://www.usafmc.org/congress-to-campus - Congress to Campus Partner * https://csdp.princeton.edu/stennis-congressional-staff-fellows - Princeton CSDP Hosting * [[wikipedia:John C. Stennis]] ===Social media=== * https://twitter.com/JCStennisInst * https://www.facebook.com/stenniscenter ==References== [[Category:Programs and initiatives]] [[Category:Programs]] [[Category:Department of State]]
