By Patrick Hermann
Summer 2013

Bumping into the original policy wonk, Ezra Klein of the Washington Post & MSNBC.

With the energy sector dominating the top 5 companies in Monday’s Forbes 500 rankings, it is pivotal to understand the relationship between energy and climate. That is, the sources in which the U.S. obtains the source for all industry, productivity, and transportation, is ultimately reflected upon the growing issue of anthropocentric climate change. Since the industrial revolution, there has undeniably been an increased level of carbon emissions, deforestation, land use change, sea level rise, and other activities harmful to biodiversity and the environment. A midst all political quarrels in Washington, climate change continues to be largest threat to humanity, as it directly affects agriculture, precipitation patterns, and other key elements of which our society depends on today.

During my tenure here in the DC program, as senior intern for the office of Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA01), my duties encompass accomplishing any work to facilitate the daily operations of the office. The assignments include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Compose constituent response letters on a variety of policy issues affecting the U.S. Congress,
• Attend Congressional hearings and briefings for the staff, composing memoranda;
• Respond to constituent needs via telephone (including relaying the Congressman’s position on all policy areas).

As environmental analysis and policy (EAP) major at BU, the office of the Congressman provided me with the first opportunity to work in domestic energy issues. With my broad knowledge of energy and environment issues, I am in charge of following all legislation coming before the House in regards to these fields.

The first instance of this is H.R. 1696, the Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act. H.R. 1696 was introduced on April 24, 2013 by Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX 02). If passed, the bill would place renewable and alternative fuels on the same footing as fossil fuels, by allowing these sources to count as “qualifying income” for the tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships as corporations. Currently, H.R. 1696 has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, the same one in which Congressman Neal is a senior member. As the senior intern, I am in charge coordinating constituent concerns with regards to this bill as well as responses from the office.

Interning in Congress during the summer has given me the opportunity to be the forefront of U.S. domestic energy policy, its key players and interest groups in Washington. By developing policy that gives renewable energy a significant economic incentive, the United States can begin to embark on a sustainable energy future.

Patrick is a senior in the Environmental Analysis and Policy program at BU. He is interning for the Office of Congressman Richard Neal.