,,ii #aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cdii ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #e1 #bjaf,mr4 ,lee 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,leahy1 ,mr4 ,hoeven1 and ,mr4 ,cruz7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,rules and ,administration ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,daniel ,webster ,congressional ,clerkship ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,daniel ,webster ,congressional ,clerkship ,act of #bjaf4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,each year1 many of the most talented law school graduates in the ,united ,states begin their legal careers as judicial law clerks4 7#b7 ,the judicial clerkship program has given the judiciary access to a pool of exceptional young lawyers at a relatively low cost4 7#c7 ,these same lawyers then go on to become leaders of their profession1 where they serve a critical role in helping to educate the public about the judiciary and the judicial process4 7#d7 ,the ,white ,house1 the administrative agencies of the executive branch1 the ,administrative ,office of the ,united ,states ,courts1 the ,federal ,judicial ,center1 and the ,united ,states ,sentencing ,commission all operate analogous programs for talented young professionals at the outset of their careers4 7#e7 ,congress is without a similar program4 7#f7 ,at a time when our ,nation faces considerable challenges1 ,congress and the public would benefit immeasurably from a program1 modeled after the judicial clerkship program1 that engages the brightest young lawyers in the ,nation in the legislative process4 7#g7 ,accordingly1 the ,congress herein creates the ,daniel ,webster ,congressional ,clerkship ,program1 named after one of the most admired and distinguished lawyer-legislators ever to serve in ,congress1 to improve the business of ,congress and increase the understanding of its work by the public4 #c4 ,daniel ,webster ,congressional ,clerkship ,program 7a7 ,selection committees ,in this ,act1 the term ,selection ,committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,rules and ,administration of the ,senate2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,house ,administration of the ,house of ,representatives4 7b7 ,establishment of ,program ,there is established the ,daniel ,webster ,congressional ,clerkship ,program for the appointment of individuals who are graduates of accredited law schools to serve as ,congressional ,clerks in the ,senate or ,house of ,representatives4 7c7 ,selection of ,clerks ,the ,selection ,committees shall select ,congressional ,clerks in the following manner3 7#a7 ,the ,committee on ,rules and ,administration of the ,senate shall select not less than #f ,congressional ,clerks each year for a clerkship with an office of the ,senate for a #a-year period4 7#b7 ,the ,committee on ,house ,administration of the ,house of ,representatives shall select not less than #f ,congressional ,clerks each year for a clerkship with an office of the ,house of ,representatives for a #a-year period4 7d7 ,selection criteria ,in carrying out subsection 7c71 the ,selection ,committees shall select ,congressional ,clerks consistent with the following criteria3 7#a7 ,each ,congressional ,clerk selected shall be a graduate of an accredited law school as of the starting date of his or her clerkship4 7#b7 ,each ,congressional ,clerk selected shall possess-- 7,a7 an excellent academic record2 7,b7 a strong record of achievement in extracurricular activities2 7,c7 a demonstrated commitment to public service2 and 7,d7 outstanding analytic1 writing1 and oral communication skills4 7e7 ,process ,after a ,congressional ,clerk is selected under this section1 such ,congressional ,clerk may then interview for a clerkship in an office1 and accept the clerkship if offered1 as follows3 7#a7 ,for a ,congressional ,clerk selected under subsection 7c77#a71 the ,congressional ,clerk may interview for1 and accept if offered1 a clerkship with-- 7,a7 an office of any committee of the ,senate1 including a select or special committee2 7,b7 an office of a joint committee of ,congress the pay of the employees of which is disbursed by the ,secretary of the ,senate2 7,c7 an office of any individual member of the ,senate2 7,d7 a leadership office of the ,senate2 or 7,e7 the ,office of the ,parliamentarian of the ,senate1 the ,office of ,senate ,legal ,counsel1 or the ,office of the ,legislative ,counsel of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,for a ,congressional ,clerk selected under subsection 7c77#b71 the ,congressional ,clerk may interview for1 and accept if offered1 a clerkship with-- 7,a7 an office of any committee of the ,house of ,representatives1 including any select or special committee2 7,b7 an office of a joint committee of ,congress the pay of the employees of which is disbursed by the ,chief ,administrative ,officer of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,c7 an office of any individual ,member of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,d7 a leadership office of the ,house of ,representatives2 or 7,e7 the ,office of ,general ,counsel of the ,house of ,representatives1 the ,office of the ,parliamentarian of the ,house of ,representatives1 or the ,office of the ,legislative ,counsel of the ,house of ,representatives4 7f7 ,placement requirements ,the ,selection ,committees shall1 to the extent practicable1 ensure that ,congressional ,clerks selected and placed under this section are apportioned equally between majority party and minority party offices4 7g7 ,exclusion from limit on number of positions ,a ,congressional ,clerk shall be excluded in determining the number of employees of the office that employs the ,clerk for purposes of-- 7#a7 in the case of the office of a ,member of the ,house of ,representatives1 section #ajd of the ,house of ,representatives ,administrative ,reform ,technical ,corrections ,act 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #ecba72 or 7#b7 in the case of any other office1 any applicable provision of law or any rule or regulation which imposes a limit on the number of employees of the office4 7h7 ,funding for positions2 adherence to rules 7#a7 ,sense of the ,senate ,it is the sense of the ,senate that-- 7,a7 the amount of financial assistance provided to a ,congressional ,clerk under paragraph 7#c7 should1 if practicable1 be comparable to the compensation and benefits provided for similar clerkships offered through the ,federal judiciary and executive branches2 and 7,b7 any financial assistance provided to a ,congressional ,clerk under such paragraph should not result in a net increase in the amounts appropriated for the legislative branch for any fiscal year4 7#b7 ,determination ,the amount of any financial assistance provided under paragraph 7#c7 for a ,congressional ,clerk shall be-- 7,a7 determined or approved by the office hiring the ,congressional ,clerk2 and 7,b7 based on the office's determination of the duties and responsibilities for such ,congressional ,clerk4 7#c7 ,financial assistance 7,a7 ,eligibility for fellowships ,a ,congressional ,clerk that is placed with an office described in subsection 7e7 may accept a fellowship through an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a777 for the term of the clerkship with the approval of the office in accordance with paragraph 7#b74 7,b7 ,payment provided by congressional office ,an office described in subsection 7e7 may use amounts otherwise available to the office to provide compensation to a ,congressional ,clerk of the office for the term of the clerkship4 7#d7 ,required adherence to rules ,a ,congressional ,clerk that obtains a clerkship under this section shall be subject to all laws1 regulations1 and rules in the same manner and to the same extent as an individual serving in a similar position in the ,senate or the ,house of ,representatives1 as the case may be4 7i7 ,rules ,the ,selection ,committees shall develop and promulgate rules regarding the administration of the ,congressional ,clerkship program established under this section4