Montville Resident Internship With Congressman Frelinghuysen

Alexander L. Peña, a Montville resident and a rising junior at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa, completed a four week summer internship in Representative Rodney P. Frelinghuysen’s (R-NJ 11) Washington, D.C. Congressional Office.

In a press release provided by the Congressman’s office, it was explained that “During his time in Congressman Frelinghuysen’s office Alexander had many responsibilities, including: attending hearings and briefings on Capitol Hill, guiding constituent tours of the Capitol Building, and researching legislation for the office.”

Peña stated that his favorite duty was guiding tours, “I like talking to people, and I like discussing with them the principles upon which our nation was built, and what sacrifices our forefathers made. Giving tours of the Capitol allows me to do both and convey some great stories about the Capitol and its workings.” At which point he spoke about two statues in the Capitol which represent New Jersey. One is of founding father and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Stockton and the second of Civil War hero General Philip Kearny.

“This internship has been short but I’m taking a lot away from it. I’ve honed my professional writing skills and have a firmer grasp of politics on and off ‘The Hill’. I’ve also met some very interesting people.” He noted several times when he had run into big name politicians on the Hill such as Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson. He also attended a lecture by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and ran into Representative Paul Ryan. Peña also noted that he felt extremely lucky to have been selected for this internship and that if given the opportunity he would like to return to Capitol Hill and intern for either Congressman Frelinghuysen again or intern with one of New Jersey’s Senators, Senator Robert Menendez or Senator Cory Booker.

Whenever he isn’t talking up a political storm, or attending classes at school, Peña can be found in the theater where he is an active member of the Moravian College Theatre Company, singing with the Choir or meeting with the non-profit human rights group Amnesty International for which he serves as Secretary for the Moravian College student chapter. Currently, Peña is majoring in History, and plans to go to graduate school for Foreign Service, join the Navy, or follow in the footsteps of his sister, Vanessa E. Peña, Esq., also a Montville Township resident, by going to law school.