Congressman
John E. Peterson

Page Program

"As I was taking tours of the Pentagon and Supreme Court, attending school in the Library of Congress, shaking the President's hand at the State of the Union, hanging out in Washington, and working in the House Chamber, my friends at home were leading a typical, small-town, high school year. The Page Program has provided me with priceless experiences, friends, and memories that will last me a lifetime!"

- Katie Murray of State College served as a Congressional Page during the 2002-2003 school year.

About the Page Program
Since 1842, high school students have been serving as support staff for the U.S. House of Representatives. The Page program gives high school juniors at least 16 years of age a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the inner workings of the legislative process, meet and live with fellow students from around the country, and serve as an important part of one of the most recognized institutions in the world.

Pages serve either for a full school semester (fall or spring) or for a one of two three-week summer sessions and while in the program, pages live in the House Page Dormitory located near the Capitol. During the school year, pages attend classes in the House Page School, which is located in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. Classes at the Page School are held 5 days a week and commencing at 6:45 a.m., prior to the convening of the House.

A congressional page's workday begins following their last class (or 9:00 a.m. for summer pages) and extends until the House adjourns for the day. Primarily, Pages serve as messengers, delivering correspondence, legislative material, and small packages between House and Senate offices on Capitol Hill. Rotating between these duties and monitoring telephones for incoming requests, Pages also assist in the House cloakrooms and in the House Chamber where they assist Members of Congress.

Applying to the House Page Program
House Pages must be a junior in high school or at least 16 years of age at the time their appointment begins and have a cumulative grade point average of "B" or better in the five major subjects. Summer applicants may only serve as a page during the summer before or summer after their junior year of high school.

A Member of Congress must sponsor all House Pages and sponsorship does not guarantee acceptance into the Congressional Page Program. The Speaker of the House makes the final decision regarding acceptance into the Program.

For More Information
U.S. House of Representative Page Program - Official Information Site
Pages of the United States Congress - Congressional Research Service Fact Sheet (pdf)

Students, parents, and school officials interested in more information on the Page Program should contact Congressman Peterson's Washington Office:

Congressman John E. Peterson
ATTN: Page Program Coordinator
123 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Phone: 202-225-5121

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