Program Overview
The APAICS Congressional Fellowship is designed for young AAPI professionals looking to increase their experience in public policy and service. The full-time, paid, 9-month program, places fellows in congressional offices to gain policy experience serving as part of the legislative team. The program provides fellows with opportunities to build their leadership skills, encourages political engagement, and fosters interest in a public service career.
2021-2022 Fellowship Tracks
APAICS Fellows are placed across House and Senate offices, committees, and leadership offices. General Congressional Fellows work on a variety of policy issues depending on their interest, expertise, and the placement office’s needs. Issue area-specific tracks are designed for applicants with interest/experience in the policy area. Applicants for an issue-specific track will also be considered for any general congressional fellowship opening as well. Previous issue area-specific fellowship tracks include general legislative fellows, education fellows, STEM fellows, and financial services fellows.
The 2021-2022 issue area tracks currently include:
1) General Congressional Fellowship: For applicants wishing to gain congressional work experience on a range of legislative issues. General congressional fellows work with their placement offices to establish a legislative issue portfolio responsive to the applicant’s interest/experience and the office’s needs.
2) Comcast Tech & Telecom Fellowship: For applicants with a specific interest in pursuing tech and telecom policy while in Congress and in their future pursuits. The Tech & Telecom Fellow’s responsibilities may include other legislative issue areas and is not solely restricted to this issue-area track. We encourage any applicant with experience or an interest in increasing their experience in tech & telecom issues to apply for this track.
Specific tracks beyond general congressional fellowship (i.e. Tech & Telecom Fellowship) will require an additional short essay response during the application process.
2021-2022 Fellowship Program Dates: September 7, 2021 – June 4, 2022
Application Deadline: January 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST
APAICS Congressional Fellowship Info Session
Interested in applying for our Congressional Fellowship? Meet alumni from our program and get your questions answered about the application process, fellowship experience, and how to set your application apart.
“As a 2016-17 APAICS Fellow, I had the opportunity to work in the Office of U.S. Senator Orrin G. Hatch, who served as both the President Pro Tempore and the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. I will always give credit to APAICS for opening the door for me on Capitol Hill. I was able to develop a diverse policy portfolio, work on state and national coalition building efforts, serve on the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), and travel to China on a Congressional Staff Delegation trip with the U.S.-Asia Institute to discuss trade polity and financial services. Working as an APAICS Fellow in the Office of Senator Hatch provided me with the skills necessary to go on to work as the National Director of Asian Pacific American Engagement at the Republican National Committee. Thanks to the support of APAICS, I have had the opportunity to elevate myself and take my career to the next level. Looking forward to working with APAICS throughout my career in the years to come.” 
Past Fellowship Placement
APAICS Fellows have been placed in the congressional offices of:
Mazie Hirono
Senator
Orrin Hatch
Senator
Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader
Judy Chu
Congresswoman
Ami Bera
Congressman
Madeleine Bordallo
Congresswoman
Grace Meng
Congresswoman
Mark Takano
Congressman
House Democratic Caucus
House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Environmental Protection Agency
Asian American Justice Center
Upon successful completion of the fellowship, past fellows have been hired on as full time staff in congressional offices, federal agencies, or non-profit organizations. A few are currently serving in elected positions. APAICS does not guarantee automatic employment after completion of fellowship tenure but will provide available resources and support should a fellow choose to seek full time employment.
Our Fellowship Sponsors
Southwest is the official airline of the APAICS Congressional Fellowship