Interns that work in Congress, the White House and in Federal Agencies often work close to 40 hours a week to gain experience necessary to help them get a job, yet many of them do not receive any compensation. Unpaid interns are actually asked to foot the bill for transportation and living expenses while working in positions that support the government.
Unpaid internships in Congress and the Federal Government are vital members of the offices they work for. By not providing compensation to these interns we are restricting these positions to only those who are wealthy enough already to work for free.
It is only fair to provide at least minimum wage to these interns, many of whom are students and recent graduates struggling to afford housing and basic economic needs.