The Day Before Independence

Spirits were high as everyone knew that the long weekend was merely one day away. It seems like every single intern had some family member either in town already or coming in the following day. In addition to all that, we were out of processed mail meaning we would not be spending the whole day on the same single task.

Then, after lunch, a staffer and an intern disappeared for a bit. I did not think much of it until the intern called the office telling me to inform everyone that if we desired to view the House Floor, we had to wrap up whatever we were doing in a few minutes. His call wasn't that specific, so I didn't give it much thought at first, in fact I was wondering why would we want to go to the gallery on a day when Congress wasn't in session. Then it dawned on me that the intern was referring to actually going to be on the floor of the US House of Representatives, not merely in the gallery that overlooks it.

Obviously I had never taken the path we used to get to the floor before today. We transversed through a corridor that was marked 'Members Only' where the walls were lined with past famous dignitaries and then we entered the lobby that connects with the back of the floor. Needless to say, as I emerged from the lobby into the House Chamber, it was an exciting moment. It was odd to see up close the same platform where the Speaker resides and the exact location of where the President stands as he reports the State of the Union. I can personally attest that the seats on the floor are quite enjoyable, and I was flabbergasted how simple the voting system appeared to the touch of my bare hand. And I even could see the typical office equipment that are used on the floor in the early 21st century (Fax machines and printers for the main part).

So one might wonder how we were permitted to be on the floor of the US House of Representatives anyway. The Rules of the House are quite firm that ONLY Members of the US House of Representatives, past-Members, immediate staff of the Clerk of the House and official Pages to the House may be present on the floor when in session. The only exception to this rule is for official guests as determined and voted on by the House Rules and Administration Committee (such as the President in order to report to Congress on the State of the Union, members of the Senate, etc.)

But, when not in session, the Rules allow for other official visitors, which includes authorized (with appropriate identification) staff of Members of Congress. If you think about it, when Congress is not in session, there has to be access for the custodial staff!

So that's how on the eve of our nations birthday celebration, that I found myself on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. It might seem strange to some to admire a mere room that seems to some extent plain, excluding the scattered engravings and portraits, but to me it was a thrill. Even without the action and Representatives present, to be so close to the power of the House was an inspiring experience for me.