Senator McCaskill's Page Program Application
Senate Page Program
The Senate Page Program is an exceptional opportunity for high school juniors to learn about government. Page duties generally consist of delivery of correspondence and legislative materials on Capitol Hill. Other duties include preparing the chamber for Senate sessions and carrying bills and amendments to the desk. However, in this capacity Senate Pages interact with some of the nation's most prominent leaders and legislators and are able to gain valuable and memorable first-hand experience in government.
There are four established page sessions. The academic year consists of two semesters which run from early September through mid-January and from mid-January through mid-June. The summer program consists of two sessions which are three or four weeks in duration depending on the legislative calendar. Pages are paid on an annual salary basis of $23,030.
A Page's day begins at 6:15 a.m. Following classes at the Page School, which extend until 9:45 a.m. or one hour prior to the commencement of the Senate every day, 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. The Page schedule is demanding but is also very rewarding and educational.
Page Sponsorship
Senate Pages must be sponsored by a Senator in a letter of recommendation to the Senate Majority Leader. There are 30 Page positions in the United States Senate which serve 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 not all students who seek a position can be accommodated. Only those candidates selected to be nominated will be contacted.
If you are interested in serving as a Senate Page, you must meet the following requirements:
* Pages must be a citizen of the United States or subject to agreements of the Department of State, and have a social security number.
* 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 the sophomore year and have not begun the 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 on their school transcript
* 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 $750 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 two blocks from the Hart Senate Office Building. Staff includes a Program Director, Administrative Aide, and four proctors. Proctors reside in Webster Hall. 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 and kitchen 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.