WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-Ill) made the following statement today announcing the renaming of the Congressional Internship Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (CIPIID) after the founder of the program, Chairman Gregg Harper (R-Miss) of the Committee on House Administration and his son Livingston.

Ranking Member-Elect Davis said: "My office has participated in this program for several years, and I know the value and joy it brings not only to the participants, but also to the Members and staff of the offices they work in. I cannot thank Gregg enough for creating this important program, and it is my great honor to announce that the CIPIID Program will now be known as the Gregg and Livingston Harper Congressional Internship Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Chairman Gregg Harper has been a champion for disabilities, and I will ensure that his legacy, the Harper Program, continues on our Committee in the 116^th Congress and beyond."

Chairman Gregg Harper said: "My son, Livingston Harper, has served as the inspiration for me during my time in Congress to focus on improving the lives of those with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). When I came to Congress and realized there was no internship program for individuals with ID, I worked with the Committee on House Administration to begin a program back in 2010. I and many others on Capitol Hill have been positively impacted by the influence and hard work of these interns. I am grateful to the Committee's future Ranking Member, Rodney Davis, for seeing that the program will continue under his leadership."

NOTE: Established by Rep. Gregg Harper in 2010, the Congressional Internship Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities is a unique program designed to give students with varying intellectual disabilities an opportunity to gain congressional work experience. Working in conjunction with George Mason University's LIFE Program – a postsecondary education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities – Harper launched the internship program with three Mason LIFE students and six House offices. To date, nearly 200 unique congressional offices from the House and Senate have participated.

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