Ben Cardin - Senator for Maryland

Senate Page Program

The Senate Page Program is a great opportunity for students to get involved in government service, meet some of the Nation's most prominent leaders and witness firsthand the political debates of the United States Senate. The Program offers Maryland students a chance to meet other students from across the country, and experience a myriad of new ideas, perspectives, and issues.


There are four established page sessions:

  • September through mid-January.
  • Mid-January through mid-June.
  • Two summer sessions which are dependent on the legislative calendar.

During the fall and spring sessions, classes are held at the Senate Page School until 9:45 a.m. or one hour prior to the commencement of the Senate. Pages report for duty to their respective cloakrooms and work until 4:00 p.m. or until the Senate adjourns for the day, whichever is later. Pages are paid on the basis of an annual salary of $21,978.

Senate Pages play an important role in the day-to-day operation of the United States Senate. Some 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 central dais.


Requirements

  • Senate Pages must be sponsored by a Senator.
  • Pages must be citizens of the United States or subject to agreements of the Department of State, and must have a Social Security number.
  • Page eligibility is limited to juniors in high school who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment. Summer Page eligibility is limited to students who have completed their sophomore year and have not begun their senior year of high school and who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment.
  • Pages must verify a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or a home school transcript, and a certification of immunization to qualify for attendance at the school.
  • A general health assessment completed by a licensed physician is required, in addition to a certification of immunization.
  • Pages are required to be covered by health insurance; if not covered, they will be required to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence

Pages are required to live in the Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence during the school year. The cost of living in the residence hall is $600 per month and includes breakfast and dinner each day. 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.

Webster Hall is located on Capitol Hill. Staff includes the Page Program Director, Administrative Specialist and five proctors. Four proctors reside full-time in Webster Hall. The living quarters include two floors, 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. Roommates share closet space, a bathroom, and a telephone. Laundry and kitchen facilities are located on the basement level of Webster Hall.

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.

Pages selected for the Summer Page Program may live with their parents or a relative in the area; alternate housing arrangements must be submitted in writing by a parent or legal guardian for approval by the Page Program Director.

 

Application Process

The Senate Page Program is highly competitive. Each Page must be sponsored by a Senator. There are a limited number of positions available and the volume of interested students is extremely high.

Prospective Pages wishing to apply to the program must submit an official letter of inquiry stating your qualifications, your reasons for wanting to participate, and what page session you are interested in participating. We will keep your inquiry on file and contact you when our office has been made aware of our page availability. Marylanders will be given preference for page positions.
Please submit application requirements to: Debbie_yamada@cardin.senate.gov or

U. S. Senator Ben Cardin
100 S. Charles Street
Tower 1, Suite 1710
Baltimore, MD 21201

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