Senate Pages must be sponsored by a Senator. There are 30 Pages in the Senate serving its 100 Members; therefore, not all Senators are able to appoint Pages. Due to the limited number of positions and the volume of interested students, competition is keen and, unfortunately, not all students who seek a position can be accommodated.

Page eligibility is limited to juniors in high school who will be 16 on or before the date of appointment. Certification of immunization and general health assessment, completed by a licensed physician, are required. Pages are also required to be covered by health insurance; if not covered, they will be required to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Page duties consist primarily of delivery of correspondence and legislative material within the Congressional Complex. Other duties include taking messages for Members, calling them to the phone, preparing the Chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk. A rotation system is practiced so that every Page has an opportunity to experience all areas of service.

Pages are paid on the basis of an annual salary of $21,033. Pages must be citizens of the United States or subject to agreements of the Department of State, and must have a social security number.

A Page's day begins at 6:15 a.m. when he or she reports to the United States Senate Page School. The Senate Page School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Due to the varying lengths of service that Pages may be appointed for, the Page School seeks to provide as smooth a transition as possible between Washington and the home school. In addition to providing the necessary requisites for a junior year course of study including mathematics, English, social studies, and science, the Page School offers a Washington Seminar Program to assure each pupil's participation and exposure to the unique educational and cultural opportunities which exist in the nation's Capital. Foreign language study may be accomplished with the assistance of the Page's home school. Tutors will be provided, but all work must be completed outside the scheduled school and work hours.

The school year consists of two semesters. The first semester runs from early September through January; the second from February through mid-June. Pages must submit a home school transcript and a certification of immunization to qualify for attendance at the school.

Following classes at the Page School, which extend until 9:30 a.m. or one hour prior to the commencement of the Senate, Pages report for duty to their respective Cloakrooms and work until 5:00 p.m. or until the Senate adjourns for the day, whichever is later. When sessions extend past 10:00 p.m., the next day's classes are postponed.

Pages are required to live in the Daniel Webster Page Residence Hall during the school year. The cost of living in the residence hall is $450 per month and includes breakfast and dinner Monday through Friday. Payment is made through payroll deduction. An initial security deposit of $250 is required before checking in and is refundable when it has been determined that no damage has occurred to the residence.

Two floors encompass living quarters, one of which is designated for young women, the other for young men. Each floor has a community day room for social activity. Pages must share rooms with each other. Each room is designed for four to six occupants and is furnished with twin size bunk or loft style beds, desks, chairs, and bureaus. Each room has closet space, a private bath and a telephone, which is shared by the Pages. Laundry facilities are provided within the building.

United States Capitol Police maintain a 24-hour security desk and a provision that requires all individuals to present identification and all visitors and guests to sign in. Capitol Police patrol the area by car and foot regularly throughout the day and night. Webster Hall is monitored by a security alarm system and all emergency and safety measures required by the District of Columbia for community life structures are present and enforced.

Dress requirements for men are navy blue suit, white long-sleeve shirt, dark blue tie, black shoes and socks. Women wear navy blue pant suits, white long-sleeve blouses, black shoes and dark nylons or dark socks. Pages are expected to fulfill their own dress requirements.

There is also a Summer Page Program which typically consists of two four-week sessions depending upon the legislative calendar. All information for the summer program is identical to the school year program with the following exceptions: Summer Page dress requirements for men are navy blue pants, white long-sleeve shirt, dark blue tie, and black shoes and socks. Women are required to wear navy blue slacks, white long-sleeve blouses, black shoes and dark socks or nylons. During the summer, Pages are allowed to live with their parents or a relative in the area; however, alternate housing arrangements must be approved in writing by the parents or legal guardian. Lastly, Page School is not in session during the summer program.

If you are selected to serve as a Page, you will be furnished with further information and requirements of the program.