<p>livegreen,
The applications are generaslly due 1-2 months before the start of the session. For the fall 2012 session, I would contact them during Spring 2012.</p>
<p>Chapen,
In my page class, there were two pages who were 19 (There is also a rule that says max age 18). I don’t think it will be a problem as they make exceptions all the time.</p>
<p>Hmmm interesting. Well thanks for the info :)</p>
<p>Darn… I’m 16 (till August) entering Senior Year in fall.
Am I eligible?</p>
<p>Hi, I’d really like to be in the page program Spring 2011-2012, I’ve called a lot of representatives but they haven’t really given me much info. Anybody who might’ve done it before know when to start applying and how?</p>
<p>As a former House page myself (Spring 2009), here’s some helpful stuff to know. I can only really speak for the House program b/c i am less familiar with the Senate one. </p>
<p>Every rep doesn’t have a page, typically there are around 70 total, and the positions are apportioned by the speaker according to how many members of each party there were. Also it matters how senior the member is in determining whether he or she gets to appoint a page. I was there in spring of 2009, and a dem page so there were a lot of Dem pages. It is beneficial if you are a page in the majority party because they get more jobs than the minority party. Both do work for their own caucuses, however some jobs are no-party specific. </p>
<p>As for applying, your rep or senator always usually has contact info at his or her website and usually the person responsible to contact is at the DC office. The Speaker can also appoint more than 1 page, i believe 5 at maximum and they can be from anywhere, not just his district. When you would be a page is important. Paging during the spring or fall is better than the summer mostly because there are more congressional recesses in the summer (this summer is an exception and would be a great time to be a page), and paging during the fall before election day isn’t a good idea, because it is an election season, little gets done and then you have the lame duck session after the election, and they absolutely nothing gets done (again in most circumstances). In addition, the page school is awesome, great teachers, interesting classes and good recommendations. Typically those courses are transferable to your home school. Plan with your HS counselor thought, that is VERY IMPORTANT. </p>
<p>Some useful ideas to have a better chance to be appointed is to work in the rep’s district office, work on campaigns (I worked on Obama’s 2008 campaign. They love leadership, and especially interest in politics. One thing to note is that there really is no uniform process in appointing pages, different reps do things differently. For some you have to have connections, others actively look for potential pages. </p>
<p>The page program is probably better than an internship in a congressional office mostly because you can only be a page during your junior year, and one can have an internship in HS or college. Doing both would be a good idea. If fact maybe even having an congressional internship before you apply would be beneficial, i know someone who did this. </p>
<p>For general questions contact the office of the clerk, they manage the page program. </p>
<p>Overall I loved it, used my page experience for my college essay, great way to make connections. Oh yeah did i mention, pages get paid too (unlike most interns)!</p>
<p>Thank you so much for replying. You said that you were a page in spring 2009? When did you begin calling your representatives and sending in applications and to how many?</p>
<p>I applied in november, so 2 months before it started. I first tried one of my senators, which didnt work out. I did that for the fall of 2008. I contacted my rep earlier but she didn’t have a position available. Later though she did, so i lucked out. It would be good to start applying earlier so that to get ahead of everyone else. Most importantly see if your rep has a position to offer, because it is less likely that rep in a different district would sponsor you, they like sponsoring people from their own. But that always isn’t the case. Also the speaker can appoint multiple ones, so try his office as well. Also look at the Senate page program too, there is a higher likelihood of one of them have a slot, but those are more competitive bc everyone from the state is applying. Sometimes you just get lucky depending on if your rep has a slot. Also if it doesn’t work out, just intern with your reps district office, that is great experience too and it provides good connections for the future.</p>
<p>I am applying for the 2011 Fall session. I sent out applications on June 13th to all of my State’s GOP Reps’ offices. One office never received it so, and I know that this is incredibly late, I faxed the office my application materials yesterday. Now, they say that they don’t know whether or not they will be able to sponsor a page for fall 2011… I asked if that was a “no” then and the gentleman in charge of the program said that the list had not yet been released from the leadership to the Reps. He also said that they were told that they are at the top of the list to get one in rotation (or near the top) Is it really possible for it to be the end of July and still have uncertainty about whether you can nominate someone? Help please!!!</p>
<p>That does seem odd that it is so late, but you could always go next spring instead, just keep calling that rep’s office.</p>
<p>My rep’s office called and told me that i would be paging for them in the spring. And they would send me info…that was 3 weeks ago and I havent recieved/heard anything since. Is there more to the process that Im not aware of?</p>
<p>Hey guys, I have a few questions for any past/present pages.</p>
<p>First off, I’m looking to apply as a page for the summer of 2012. Are deadlines under the Congressman’s discretion, or does the Office of the Clerk decide when you can and can’t apply?</p>
<p>Additionally, My Congressman’s website has no mention of allowing pages, so I imagine his staff won’t select anyone unless they take the initiative to ask. I would call his office, however, I’m a US citizen living abroad, which brings up another question. Am I eligible to be a page in my district or any district, for that matter? I don’t want to waste my time (and money) by making an international call, only to figure out that I need to be a current resident of the district to even be considered.</p>
<p>Thanks, and all help is greatly appreciated!
BTW, I used to live in the district represented by my Congressman, if that somehow changes my status of eligibility.</p>
<p>I just got in touch with the Majority Leader’s office and the Speaker’s office and have been informed that the list will go out in mid-August. They also seemed unsure about the dates for the Fall term this year. Strange?</p>
<p>I was reading random articles about the page life. One said that you couldnt bring a cell phone or computer, it this correct?</p>
<p>My congressman’s office told me that they won’t know about the Spring Semester til Late January… but the program doesn’t start til then. They say they’ll give me an application then… I don’t know what to do…</p>
<p>No, the program starts in Feb. They are very behind on the Fall Semester as well.</p>
<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michael Steel, Brendan Buck, Kevin Smith
August 8, 2011 (202) 225-0600
PERMALINK</p>
<p>Statement by Speaker Boehner & Democratic Leader Pelosi on the House Page Program</p>
<p>WASHINGTON, DC Citing advances in technology that have reduced the need for services traditionally provided by congressional Pages, as well as the high cost of the program, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have directed the Clerk of the House and other House officials to take the steps necessary to conclude the House Page Program. Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi have advised the Page Board of their decision, which was based in part on an independent review of the program conducted jointly by Strategic Assets Consulting and Fieldstone Consulting, Inc. Specifically, the independent review found:
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.
Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi issued the following statement:
We have great appreciation for the unique role that Pages have played in the history and traditions of the House of Representatives. This decision was not easy, but it is necessary due to the prohibitive cost of the program and advances in technology that have rendered most Page-provided services no longer essential to the smooth functioning of the House. Although the traditional mission of the Page Program has diminished, we will work with Members of the House to carry on the tradition of engaging young people in the work of the Congress.
Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi also directed the House Historian to prepare an official history of the House Page Program as a tribute to the many Pages, Members of Congress and congressional staff who have contributed to the program over the years.</p>
<p>REALLY??!??!?!!?
OMGsh</p>
<p>I was a US House of Representatives Page and it was the best experience of my life. I went in the fall and got asked back for a second somester, so I had a full year of the school. Without AP classes I got a 5 on the three AP’s that I took. I’m applying to colleges now, so I’ll keep posted on if it helped. It’s worth it without a doubt.</p>
<p>hawkster, they ended it</p>
<p>That’s just sad… There are other <strong>much better</strong> ways to cut costs. Wow.</p>