What do my House/Senate IDs allow me to do?

[Anonymous]

What can my "Support" Senate or House ID allow me to do? Can I take people on tours? Access special spots? I know my hours are not 24/7, but am unsure what I can do now that I am "official!"

[Anonymous]

You rule the city. Wear your ID everywhere. Ask for discounts, head of line privileges, and generally let the commoners know how important you are.

[Anonymous]

Probably not. I know it is far from special, even on the hill, but I am curious to know what access or privileges I have with it on the hill that the general public doesn't have.

[Anonymous]

The main thing is that you can cut the tourist line to get in the building- at least that was the one perk when I had mine.

[Anonymous]

You can get an extra cookie. That's it. You're still a low man on the totem pole.

And seriously, if you have to ask (and asking DCUM of all things) then...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The main thing is that you can cut the tourist line to get in the building- at least that was the one perk when I had mine.

Can I take family on a tour (rise the tram, etc)? Can they cut the line of they are with me? To be clear, I am actually trying to see what (if any) benefit I can provide to family who visit me.

[Anonymous]

Check back when you have a member's lapel pin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The main thing is that you can cut the tourist line to get in the building- at least that was the one perk when I had mine.

Can I take family on a tour (rise the tram, etc)? Can they cut the line of they are with me? To be clear, I am actually trying to see what (if any) benefit I can provide to family who visit me.

Make friends with a security guard, then ask them. They will know this. They literally look at badges all work-day long.

[Anonymous]

I honestly don't know why a simple question creates such a snark fest. Maybe it is because none of these people have a clue -- the Capitol doesn't have "security guards" it has the Capitol Police. I'm not sure what a "support" id is, but assuming it is the same as any staff id, you can use it to bring your family into the Capitol, but you have to check them in at a desk (the one on the Senate side is in the basement of the Russell Building). They will need a picture id. At the Visitors's Center, there is a desk for Staff Tours, where you can get them on a tour. They'll need passes for the galleries, but you can get those from any member's office. Just stick your head in at a office of a member of the state where they're from. You used to be able to take family on the Senate floor when the Senate was not in session, but that ended after 9/11 (although there are ways to arrange floor tours, if you know leadership staff). You can take them to the lobby off the floor. Don't know about the House floor. You can sit on the West front for the fourth of July. Really, that's about it. Dome tours (which are suspended now, during the construction), can only be led by members.

[Anonymous]

Free entry into Smithsonian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't know why a simple question creates such a snark fest. Maybe it is because none of these people have a clue -- the Capitol doesn't have "security guards" it has the Capitol Police. I'm not sure what a "support" id is, but assuming it is the same as any staff id, you can use it to bring your family into the Capitol, but you have to check them in at a desk (the one on the Senate side is in the basement of the Russell Building). They will need a picture id. At the Visitors's Center, there is a desk for Staff Tours, where you can get them on a tour. They'll need passes for the galleries, but you can get those from any member's office. Just stick your head in at a office of a member of the state where they're from. You used to be able to take family on the Senate floor when the Senate was not in session, but that ended after 9/11 (although there are ways to arrange floor tours, if you know leadership staff). You can take them to the lobby off the floor. Don't know about the House floor. You can sit on the West front for the fourth of July. Really, that's about it. Dome tours (which are suspended now, during the construction), can only be led by members.

Sincere thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't know why a simple question creates such a snark fest. Maybe it is because none of these people have a clue -- the Capitol doesn't have "security guards" it has the Capitol Police. I'm not sure what a "support" id is, but assuming it is the same as any staff id, you can use it to bring your family into the Capitol, but you have to check them in at a desk (the one on the Senate side is in the basement of the Russell Building). They will need a picture id. At the Visitors's Center, there is a desk for Staff Tours, where you can get them on a tour. They'll need passes for the galleries, but you can get those from any member's office. Just stick your head in at a office of a member of the state where they're from. You used to be able to take family on the Senate floor when the Senate was not in session, but that ended after 9/11 (although there are ways to arrange floor tours, if you know leadership staff). You can take them to the lobby off the floor. Don't know about the House floor. You can sit on the West front for the fourth of July. Really, that's about it. Dome tours (which are suspended now, during the construction), can only be led by members.

This is a ridiculous attempt at a distinction. The people who stand in entryways and check IDs are security guards. They may be military, local police, homeland security, federal protective services, capitol police, or private company. But they are security guards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't know why a simple question creates such a snark fest. Maybe it is because none of these people have a clue -- the Capitol doesn't have "security guards" it has the Capitol Police. I'm not sure what a "support" id is, but assuming it is the same as any staff id, you can use it to bring your family into the Capitol, but you have to check them in at a desk (the one on the Senate side is in the basement of the Russell Building). They will need a picture id. At the Visitors's Center, there is a desk for Staff Tours, where you can get them on a tour. They'll need passes for the galleries, but you can get those from any member's office. Just stick your head in at a office of a member of the state where they're from. You used to be able to take family on the Senate floor when the Senate was not in session, but that ended after 9/11 (although there are ways to arrange floor tours, if you know leadership staff). You can take them to the lobby off the floor. Don't know about the House floor. You can sit on the West front for the fourth of July. Really, that's about it. Dome tours (which are suspended now, during the construction), can only be led by members.

This is a ridiculous attempt at a distinction. The people who stand in entryways and check IDs are security guards. They may be military, local police, homeland security, federal protective services, capitol police, or private company. But they are security guards.

Seriously.

[Anonymous]

As someone that worked on the hill, i'm embarrassed by the OP. I always tried to hide my badge and never mentioned that I was on the hill.

I can't stand people who wave their hill badge around.

[Anonymous]

Last year I stood on the balcony where the pope addressed the people outside the Capitol (the speaker's balcony) on a tour with a lowly intern family member. And House and senate floors. Very cool.