SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL

§4901. Congressional pages

(a) Appointment conditions

A person shall not be appointed as a page of the Senate or House of Representatives—

(1) unless he agrees that, in the absence of unforeseen circumstances preventing his service as a page after his appointment, he will continue to serve as a page for the period specified in writing at the time of the appointment; and

(2) until complete information in writing is transmitted to his parent or parents, his legal guardian, or other appropriate person or persons acting as his parent or parents, with respect to the nature of the work of pages, their pay, their working conditions (including hours and scheduling of work), and the housing accommodations available to pages.

(b) Qualifications

A person shall not serve as a page—

(1) of the Senate before he has attained the age of sixteen years; or

(2) of the House of Representatives before he has attained the age of sixteen years.

(Pub. L. 91–510, title IV, §491(a)–(d), Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1198; Pub. L. 97–51, §§101(c), 123, Oct. 1, 1981, 95 Stat. 959, 965; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, §204(36), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1735; Pub. L. 108–447, div. G, title I, §9, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3170.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 88b–1 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Repeal of subsecs. (c) and (d) of this section is based on section 304(a) of H.R. 4120, as reported July 9, 1981, which was enacted into permanent law by section 101(c) of Pub. L. 97–51 and amended by section 123 of Pub. L. 97–51.

Amendments

2004—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 108–447 substituted "sixteen" for "fourteen".

1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–186, §204(36)(A), substituted "the period specified in writing at the time of the appointment" for "a period of not less than two months".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–186, §204(36)(B), substituted a period for "; or" at end of par. (2) and struck out concluding provisions which read as follows: "(except in the case of a chief page, telephone page, or riding page) during any session of the Congress which begins after he has attained the age of eighteen years."

1981—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 97–51 struck out subsecs. (c) and (d) which had provided, respectively, that pay of pages of the Senate began not more than five days before the convening or reconvening of a session of the Congress or of the Senate and continued until the end of the month during which the Congress or the Senate adjourned or recessed or until the fourteenth day after such adjournment or recess, whichever was the later date, except that, in any case in which the Congress or the Senate adjourned or recessed on or before the last day of July for a period of at least thirty days but not more than forty-five days, such pay would continue until the end of such period of adjournment or recess, and that the pay of pages of the House of Representatives began not more than five days before the convening of a session of the Congress and continued until the end of the month during which the Congress adjourned sine die or recessed or until the fourteenth day after such adjournment or recess, whichever was the later date, except that, in any case in which the House adjourned or recessed on or before the last day of July in any year for a period of at least thirty days but not more than forty-five days, such pay would continue until the end of such period of adjournment or recess.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Subsecs. (a), (c), and (d) of this section effective immediately prior to noon on Jan. 3, 1971, see section 601(1) of Pub. L. 91–510, set out as an Effective Date of 1970 Amendment note under section 4301 of this title.

Pub. L. 91–510, title IV, §491(f), Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1198, provided that: "Subsection (b) of this section shall become effective on January 3, 1971, but the provisions of such subsection limiting service as a page to persons who have attained the age of sixteen years shall not be construed to prohibit the continued service of any page appointed prior to the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 26, 1970]."

Pay of Pages Between Recess or Adjournment

Prior to the repeal of subsecs. (c) and (d) of section 88b–1 (now 4901) of this title by Pub. L. 97–51, provisions for continuing the pay of pages of the Senate and House of Representatives during specific periods of recess or adjournment of Congress by making such subsecs. (b) and (c) inapplicable to the pay of pages during such periods, were contained in the following appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 97–12, title I, June 5, 1981, 95 Stat. 65.

Pub. L. 96–536, §101(c), Dec. 16, 1980, 94 Stat. 3167.

Pub. L. 96–38, title III, §303, July 25, 1979, 93 Stat. 142. Subsequently repealed by Pub. L. 97–51, §§101(c), 123, Oct. 1, 1981, 95 Stat. 965.

Pub. L. 95–391, title III, §305, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 789.

§4902. John W. McCormack Residential Page School

(a) Construction authorization for dormitory and classroom facilities complex

There is hereby authorized to be constructed, on a site jointly approved by the Senate Office Building Commission and the House Office Building Commission, in accordance with plans which shall be prepared by or under the direction of the Architect of the Capitol and which shall be submitted to and jointly approved by the Senate Office Building Commission and the House Office Building Commission, a fireproof building containing dormitory and classroom facilities, including necessary furnishings and equipment, for pages of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

(b) Acquisition of property in District of Columbia

The Architect of the Capitol, under the joint direction and supervision of the Senate Office Building Commission and the House Office Building Commission, is authorized to acquire on behalf of the United States, by purchase, condemnation, transfer, or otherwise, such publicly or privately owned real property in the District of Columbia (including all alleys, and parts of alleys, and streets within the curblines surrounding such real property) located in the vicinity of the United States Capitol Grounds, as may be approved jointly by the Senate Office Building Commission and the House Office Building Commission, for the purpose of constructing on such real property, in accordance with this section, a suitable dormitory and classroom facilities complex for pages of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

(c) Condemnation proceedings

Any proceeding for condemnation instituted under subsection (b) of this section shall be conducted in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 13 of title 16 of the District of Columbia Code.

(d) Transfer of United States owned property

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any real property owned by the United States, and any alleys, or parts of alleys and streets, contained within the curblines surrounding the real property acquired on behalf of the United States under this section shall be transferred, upon the request of the Architect of the Capitol made with the joint approval of the Senate Office Building Commission and the House Office Building Commission, to the jurisdiction and control of the Architect of the Capitol.

(e) Alley and street closures by Mayor of the District of Columbia

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any alleys, or parts of alleys and streets, contained within the curblines surrounding the real property acquired on behalf of the United States under this section shall be closed and vacated by the Mayor of the District of Columbia in accordance with any request therefor made by the Architect of the Capitol with the joint approval of the Senate Office Building Commission and the House Office Building Commission.

(f) United States Capitol Grounds provisions applicable

Upon the acquisition on behalf of the United States of all real property under this section, such property shall be a part of the United States Capitol Grounds and shall be subject to the provisions of sections 1922, 1961, 1966, 1967, and 1969 of this title and sections 5101 to 5107 and 5109 of title 40.

(g) Designation; employment of services under supervision and control of Architect of the Capitol: joint approval and direction of Speaker and President pro tempore; annual estimates to Congress; regulations governing Architect of the Capitol

The building constructed on the real property acquired under this section shall be designated the "John W. McCormack Residential Page School". The employment of all services (other than that of the United States Capitol Police) necessary for its protection, care, maintenance, and use, for which appropriations are made by Congress, shall be under the control and supervision of the Architect of the Capitol. Such supervision and control shall be subject to the joint approval and direction of the Speaker and the President pro tempore. The Architect shall submit annually to the Congress estimates in detail for all services, other than those of the United States Capitol Police or those provided in connection with the conduct of school operations and the personal supervision of pages, and for all other expenses in connection with the protection, care, maintenance, and use of the John W. McCormack Residential Page School. The Speaker and the President pro tempore shall prescribe, from time to time, regulations governing the Architect in the provision of services and the protection, care, and maintenance, of the John W. McCormack Residential Page School.

(h) Joint appointee for supervision and control over page activities; regulations; Residence Superintendent of Pages: appointment, compensation, and duties; additional personnel: appointment and compensation

The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate jointly shall designate an officer of the House and an officer of the Senate, other than a Member of the House or Senate, who shall jointly exercise supervision and control over the activities of the pages resident in the John W. McCormack Residential Page School. With the approval of the Speaker and the President pro tempore, such officers so designated shall prescribe regulations governing—

(1) the actual use and occupancy of the John W. McCormack Residential Page School including, if necessary, the imposition of a curfew for pages;

(2) the conduct of pages generally; and

(3) other matters pertaining to the supervision, direction, safety, and well-being of pages in off-duty hours.

Such officers, subject to the approval of the Speaker and the President pro tempore, jointly shall appoint and fix the per annum gross rate of pay of a Residence Superintendent of Pages, who shall perform such duties with respect to the supervision of pages resident therein as those officials shall prescribe. In addition, such officers, subject to the approval of the Speaker and the President pro tempore, jointly shall appoint and fix the per annum gross rates of pay of such additional personnel as may be necessary to assist those officers and the Residence Superintendent of Pages in carrying out their functions under this section.

(i) Section 4903 of this title unaffected

Nothing in this part shall affect the operation of section 4903 of this title, relating to educational facilities of pages and other minors who are congressional employees.

(Pub. L. 91–510, title IV, §492, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1199; Pub. L. 93–198, title IV, §421, Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 789; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, §204(34)(C), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1734.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Sections 1922, 1961, 1966, 1967, and 1969 of this title and sections 5101 to 5107 and 5109 of title 40, referred to in subsec. (f), was in the original a reference to the Act entitled "An Act to define the area of the United States Capitol Grounds, to regulate the use thereof, and for other purposes", approved July 31, 1946, which is act July 31, 1946, ch. 707, 60 Stat. 718. Sections 9, 9A, 9B, 9C, and 14 of the Act are classified, respectively, to sections 1961, 1966, 1967, 1922, and 1969 of this title, and section 16(b) of the Act is set out as a note under section 1961 of this title. Sections 1 to 8, 10 to 13, and 16(a) of the Act, which were classified to sections 193a to 193m of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, were repealed and reenacted as sections 5101 to 5107 and 5109 of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, by Pub. L. 107–217, §§1, 6(b), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1062, 1312, the first section of which enacted Title 40. Section 5(c) of Pub. L. 107–217, set out as a note preceding section 101 of Title 40, provides that a reference to a law replaced by section 1 of Pub. L. 107–217 is deemed to refer to the corresponding provision enacted by Pub. L. 107–217. For complete classification of the act of July 31, 1946, to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of sections of former Title 40, see table at the beginning of Title 40.

This part, referred to in subsec. (i), means part 9 of title IV of Pub. L. 91–510, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1199, which enacted this section and section 4901 of this title, repealed section 88c of this title, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 4901 of this title.

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 2161 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section, and to section 184a of former Title 40, prior to the enactment of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, by Pub. L. 107–217, §1, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1062.

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 104–186 struck out "section 88a of title 2 or" after "affect the operation of".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective immediately prior to noon on Jan. 3, 1971, see section 601(1) of Pub. L. 91–510, set out as an Effective Date of 1970 Amendment note under section 4301 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

Office of Commissioner of District of Columbia, as established by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1967, abolished as of noon Jan. 2, 1975, by Pub. L. 93–198, title VII, §711, Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 818, and replaced by office of Mayor of District of Columbia by section 421 of Pub. L. 93–198. Accordingly, "Mayor" substituted in subsec. (e) for "commissioners".

Acquisition of Property as Site for John W. McCormack Residential Page School

Pub. L. 92–607, ch. V, Oct. 31, 1972, 86 Stat. 1512, authorized Architect of the Capitol to acquire certain specified real estate for use as a green park area pending its development for permanent use as site of John W. McCormack Residential Page School.

§4903. Education of other minors who are Senate employees

The facilities provided for the education of Congressional and Supreme Court pages shall be available from and after January 2, 1947, also for the education of such other minors who are Senate employees as may be certified by the Secretary of the Senate to receive such education.

(Mar. 22, 1947, ch. 20, title I, 61 Stat. 16; Pub. L. 98–367, title I, §103, July 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 479; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, §204(35), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1735.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 88b of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

The first paragraph of this section is based on act Mar. 22, 1947.

The second paragraph was based on H. Res. No. 279, Ninety-eighth Congress, July 21, 1983, enacted into permanent law by Pub. L. 98–367. See 1996 Amendment note below.

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–186, in first par., substituted "Senate employees" for "congressional employees" and struck out "and the Clerk of the House of Representatives" after "Secretary of the Senate", and struck out second par. which read as follows: "This section shall not apply to any minor who is an employee of the House of Representatives or to any educational facility under the House of Representatives Page Board."