Page Program

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE HOUSE PAGE PROGRAM

Washington, DC –On Monday, August 8, 2011, Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced that due to a reduced need for services traditionally provided by Congressional Pages, they have directed the Clerk of the House to terminate the House Page Program.  Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi arrived at the decisions after an extensive independent review of the program, culminating in the following conclusions*:

·         Pages, once stretched to the limit delivering large numbers of documents and other packages between the U.S. Capitol and House office buildings, are today rarely called upon for such services, since most documents are now transmitted electronically;

·         Dozens of pages once needed on the House Floor to deliver a steady stream of phone messages to lawmakers are no longer required for that purpose as most Members are contacted directly via electronic devices;

·         The annual cost to operate the program exceeds $5 million, not including capital costs associated with the Page dormitory and School; and

·         The “per Page” cost per school year is between $69,000 and $80,000, more than the most expensive boarding schools, as well as most colleges and universities.

Congressman Woodall issued the following statement:

“The House Page Program is nearly as old as Congress itself, and I am sure the Speaker and Minority Leader’s decision to end it was not an easy one.  Although the House will no longer offer the Page Program, I look forward to finding new and better ways to engage America’s youth in the inner-workings of the legislative process.”

Please direct any further questions about the termination to Congressman Woodall’s Washington, D.C., Office at (202) 225-4272.

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