Norton to Introduce Bill to Create a House Summer Internship Program, Replacing Page Program

September 28, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will introduce a bill when Congress reconvenes to create a volunteer summer internship program to replace the House Page Program, which ended this year due to budget cuts. Based on the old Page Program, Norton's bill requires summer interns in the program to have much of the same duties and responsibilities as House Pages. Unlike the House Page Program, however, Norton's proposed internship program requires applicants to be in college or college-bound, and to provide for their own housing during the internship, as well as being unpaid.

"Although funding for the program has come to an end, the need for Pages has not," said Norton. "The need for Pages has become apparent to House Members in the short time since the House Page Program ended. The Page Program provided a uniquely valuable learning experience to students and performed important tasks for Members and their offices. My bill removes the traditional impediments that brought down the Page Program—the costs associated with providing education and housing to the Pages, and caring for minors."

House leaders announced in August that they would conclude the House Page Program, citing the high cost to operate the program, more than $5 million, and advances in technology that they believe have reduced the need for services provided by Pages. Norton says that the brief experience without Pages has since shown otherwise.

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