Press Room
Contact
Jeff Ventura
Director of Communications
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
U.S. House of Representatives
Jeff.Ventura@mail.house.gov
202-226-5680
Press Release
CAO Daniel P. Beard To Speak in Portland, Oregon, March 24, 2008
Plans to Relight Symbol of Democrary Taking Shape, March 4, 2008
Statement from Daniel Beard Regarding the House's Purchase of Carbon Offsets, February 5, 2008
House Making Strides in Going Green, January 23, 2008
CAO Allows Current Ford Cafeteria Vendor to Remain Until September 2008, November 16, 2007
House cafeterias to undergo major menu, operational changes in December, November 13, 2007
CAO Named by Washingtonian Magazine as a “Great Place to Work”, October 18, 2007
7000 House Employees Asked to Consider Greener Commutes, October 16, 2007
Citing Workers' Safety, CAO Closes House Upholstery Shop, September 4, 2007
In the News
A Clean Sweep Planned for House Hallways, Roll Call, May 5, 2008
Within three months, the hallways in House office buildings will seem wider as a new policy is ejecting all those large laminated signs, unused tables and flag posts.
GREEN BUILDING: Senate gets greener, inside and out, E & E Daily, April 29, 2008
The House has turned some of its neighbors green with envy lately with a series of eco-friendly enterprises -- such as buying 30,000 tons of carbon offsets and ditching styrofoam in their cafeteria -- while the Senate's greening efforts have received little fanfare in comparison. But the upper body may soon have the upper hand.
From Capitol Hill to the compost pile, Politico, April 22, 2008
It’s lunchtime any day of the week, and you’re in the Longworth cafeteria, a mecca of food service in the House of Representatives, finishing up some morsel of greenery from the salad bar. Or maybe you’ve just speared your last mouthful of pulled pork from the barbecue. You get up to get rid of your fork and plate, tossing them in the “compostable” slot in the House’s elaborate new recycling stations. You leave.
Visualizing a Happier Workplace, Roll Call, April 21, 2008
Congressional staffers don’t need a panel of outside experts to tell them that Capitol Hill offices aren’t exactly ideal spaces for getting work done.
HOUSE: Cafeteria aims to trim the fat, garbage, E & E Daily, April 18, 2008
When lunch leftovers emerge from the Longworth Building's new composting pulper, they aren't very green. They're more of a murky grey mulch with bits of onion ring and apple cores sticking out.
TRANSPORTATION; New bike-sharing fleet rolls onto Capitol Hill , E & E Daily, April 15, 2008
Capitol Hill staff will soon be able to cruise the Mall on slick new emissions-free sets of wheels -- eco-friendly bicycles.
Green machine churns on House side, Politico, April 15, 2008
It’s called Greening the Capitol — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s push to make the Capitol campus more environmentally friendly — but, in fact, it could well be called Greening the House.
A trashy story, The Hill, April 14, 2008
Three lobbyists recently rose after eating lunch in the Longworth cafeteria, when one said to the other, “Hey, have you seen all the different bins to put your trash in? You have to make sure you get the right one. They’ve got one for bottles, one for food, one for your trash …”
Coal-Fired Plant, Roll Call, April 2, 2008
As Members and top Capitol Hill officials work to create a new long-term master plan for the Capitol complex, they also are grappling with what to do about the coal-burning Capitol Power Plant.
Appropriators Examine House Budget, Roll Call, March 17, 2008
Pages, carbon offsets and evacuation routes were among the eclectic range of topics tackled last week as appropriators looked at the House’s $1.3 billion fiscal 2009 budget request.
Getting wounded vets back on their feet, The Hill , March 12, 2008
House members and staff soon will be confronted by walking reminders of the ongoing war in Iraq: wounded veterans who could find themselves working in the very offices of lawmakers who sent them to war.
House Announces Program to Share Bicycles, Roll Call, March 6, 2008
Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard announced today the start of a bicycle-sharing program designed to provide a new commuting option for House employees that also aims to help people on Capitol Hill get more exercise.
Light Up the Night, Roll Call, March 5, 2008
The Capitol Dome is closer to getting illuminated in green.
Who's got the brighter lights? Capitol Dome vs. memorials , The Hill, March 5, 2008
The U.S. Capitol dome soon won't have to worry about other landmarks on the National Mall outshining it.
Biweekly Payroll Could Replace Monthly Pay Stubs, Roll Call, Febrary 28, 2008
Attention, House staffers: Balancing that checkbook could soon get a lot easier.
Bill would give House staff two paychecks monthly, The Hill , February 27, 2008
Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard touted his efforts in greening the House cafeterias before the chamber’s global warming committee on Tuesday, the same day his office unveiled a new pilot program to increase recycling in House offices.
Beard Details New Recycling Efforts, Roll Call, February 27, 2008
Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard touted his efforts in greening the House cafeterias before the chamber’s global warming committee on Tuesday, the same day his office unveiled a new pilot program to increase recycling in House offices.
Warrior Hired, Roll Call, February 26, 2008
Retired Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Patricia Orsini will head the House’s Wounded Warrior Program, a new $5 million venture that is expected to bring up to 50 wounded veterans to work in various Congressional offices, Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard announced Monday.
Beard Bites Back, Roll Call, February 6, 2008
Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard on Tuesday defended the House’s decision to buy $89,000 worth of carbon offset credits from the Chicago Climate Exchange, more than a week after new concerns were raised about the value of the purchase.
Restored Subcommittee Takes on Capitol Hill, Roll Call, January 22, 2008
Of all the changes that transformed daily life on Capitol Hill in 2007, perhaps no Member played a bigger role than a second-term Congresswoman from Florida.
Having Your Coke — and Saving the Environment, Roll Call, December 20, 2007
Do you know how much that 3 p.m. bag of vending machine potato chips costs you?
Some Hill E-Mail Systems Set for Big Price Hike, Roll Call, December 20, 2007
Some Members will be paying thousands more dollars annually to sort and manage their e-mail after House officials approved — with little or no negotiations — a price hike for several companies that provide such services.
Tasty New Options Are on the Table, Roll Call, December 17, 2007
After months of anticipation (and a week of dwindling rations in House cafeterias), Restaurant Associates officially takes over as the new vendor for House food service operations today.
Hunger Strikes, Roll Call, December 13, 2007
It’s the home stretch before Congress recesses for the holidays and plenty of staffers and Members are planning to clock long hours on the job. And they’ll need plenty of fuel, in the form of greasy lunches, coffee and afternoon snacks to complete their work — but they aren’t likely to get them in the House cafeterias, where food supplies are dwindling.
Democrats Tout Green Achievements, Roll Call, December 12, 2007
Six months after officially unveiling the Green the Capitol Initiative, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) are touting Congress’ eco-friendly accomplishments — and fending off Republican criticisms of the project.
Beard Fires Back at Greening Plan Critics, Roll Call, December 3, 2007
House Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard and an array of Members are speaking up in support of the Green the Capitol Initiative, a project that in recent weeks has been criticized by Republican leaders as a waste of taxpayer funds.
A Little More Time, Roll Call, November 19, 2007
The family-run Ford Continental Cafeteria, located in the Ford House Office Building, will continue to operate until September 2008, House Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard announced Friday.
No More Mold, Roll Call, November 12, 2007
Things are back to normal in the House upholstery shop after crews successfully eradicated the workspace of black mold discovered there more than two months ago.
Family’s Cafeteria in Ford Set to Close, Roll Call, November 15, 2007
For 14 years, the Skenteris family has brought a unique flair to Capitol Hill, serving up pizza and sandwiches alongside Greek dishes like gyros and rice pilaf in the Ford House Office Building cafeteria.
Pelosi Instructs House to Hire Wounded War Vets, Roll Call, November 8, 2007
House CAO Dan Beard hopes to develop a program that would match wounded veterans with House jobs by March 1.
CAO to Buy Carbon Offsets for House Today, Roll Call, November 5, 2007
The purchase of carbon offsets is the first step House officials have taken to implement the main components of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) Green the Capitol Initiative. It is supposed to make up for the 24,000 tons of carbon that will be emitted this year to keep House buildings running.
House to Spend $89,000 on Pollution Credits, CQ Today, November 4, 2007
The House’s chief administrative officer, Daniel P. Beard, will travel to Chicago on Nov. 5 to buy carbon offset credits — the first major step toward implementing Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plan to make House buildings more environmentally friendly.
House Staff Get Zipcars, Flexcars, Roll Call, October 29, 2007
Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard is instituting a 90-day pilot program that will bring the vehicle-share companies Flexcar and Zipcar to Capitol Hill.
CAO to Shine New Lights on Capitol Dome, Roll Call, October 25, 2007
Congressional officials are looking to light the Capitol Dome in green.
Beard Turns Green Eye to Congressional Staff, Roll Call, October 24, 2007
House Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard and his Green the Capitol Initiative staff host a Green Transportation Expo on Thursday, October 25, designed to give staffers an idea of how they can reduce carbon emissions on their way to work.
CAO Snags ‘Great Places to Work’ Recognition, Roll Call, October 18, 2007
The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer is among the best places to work in Washington, D.C., according to Washingtonian.
House Day Care Center Gets Top Marks, Roll Call, October 15, 2007
The House of Representatives Child Care Center has been awarded the highest level of accreditation under a new, tougher system established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Capitol Power Plant Turns Green(er), Roll Call, October 10, 2007
Ever since Democrats took over Congress at the start of the year, greening efforts have been at the forefront of talks on how best to manage the Capitol complex.
Upholstery Shop Hurt by Mold, Roll Call, September 6, 2007
The House upholstery shop has been temporarily shut down after a potentially harmful level of black mold was discovered there.
Restaurant Associates to Take Over House Dining, Roll Call, August 13, 2007
The New York-based food service and catering company Restaurant Associates will take over House dining operations in December, the House Administration Committee announced last week.
Architect Has Long August To-Do List, Roll Call, August 1, 2007
With just three days to go before Congress breaks for its annual August recess - if all things go as scheduled, anyway - Congressional staffers are looking forward to a few weeks of downtime.
Camp for Capitol Hill Kids, Roll Call, August 1, 2007
On Monday morning, as parents scrambled around the Capitol preparing for one last push before recess, many of their children sat around a conference table in the Cannon House Office Building drawing pictures and talking about what laid in store for this week’s activities.
Take That, BCRA, Roll Call, July 30, 2007
An amendment limiting federal law enforcement's ability to police certain issue ads by labor unions and other outside groups awaits conference scrutiny after passing the House late last week.
Server Glitch Hits House E-mail Accounts, Roll Call, July 26, 2007
House e-mail server problems have left thousands of Capitol Hill staffers wringing their hands in frustration over the past two weeks as Congress has moved into its annual pre-August legislative crunch time.
Funny Money, Roll Call, July 26, 2007
Comedian Dave Chappelle famously concluded his now-defunct Comedy Central series with the line "I'm rich, biatch!" And since it's probably true - the comedian is reportedly worth heaps of money - he needs a place to stash all that cash, like the House-side credit union.
Benefits Boost, Roll Call, July 24, 2007
In accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act, House Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard announced enhancements Monday to the House Officers' Family and Medical Leave Policy.
Senate Day Care Alters Wait List Rules, Roll Call, July 17, 2007
New guidelines have been enacted at the Senate Employee Child Care Center to give children of Senate employees a leg up in the admissions process, which can see families wait more than a year for an open spot.
Ecopolitics: It's a Capitol Idea, Newsweek, June 25, 2007 issue
Ehlers Takes Issue With Pelosi's Capitol Greening Initiative, Roll Call, June 20, 2007
Just days before Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) unveils a full report on her much-touted Green the Capitol Initiative, a second Republican leader on administrative issues is calling for top Democrats to be cautious in their planning and not to dismiss the "greening" efforts that have taken place in the House over the past 12 years.
House to Get New Culinary Experience?, Roll Call, June 18, 2007
Although the fiscal 2008 legislative branch appropriations bill is chock full of funds designed to improve personnel and security matters on Capitol Hill, there are a few items included in the measure that could bring some fresh faces - and tastes - to the Congressional campus.
Ted's New Gig, Roll Call, June 18, 2007
Ted Van Der Meid, one-time chief counsel and director of floor operations to then-Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), has joined the law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge.
GOP Preaches Caution on Green Plan, Roll Call, June 14, 2007
Less than two months after the release of a preliminary report on Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) new Green the Capitol Initiative, appropriators have approved $3.9 million in new funding for the effort and redirected other dollars so officials can study ways to create a more environmentally friendly House of Representatives.
House Unveils Hill Funding, Roll Call, June 13, 2007
Aside from providing the cash to fund salaries and expenses, the $3.1 billion legislative branch spending bill approved by the Appropriations Committee on Tuesday presents the Democrats' new vision for the Capitol campus, one that addresses labor matters, going green, and health and security needs.
Benefits Equalized for Certain House Staff, Roll Call, June 4, 2007
The revamped leave guidelines that went into effect on Friday for about 1,200 employees of the House of Representatives are only the beginning of a larger effort by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to create more consistent personnel policies among the four major House officers.
The Keeper of the House, The Washington Post, May 31, 2007
Bid for a Carbon-Neutral House, The Washington Post, May 25, 2007
Relic Keeps on Picking, Roll Call, May 23, 2007
On a recent Thursday afternoon, House upholsterer Kenton Armas stood in front of an antique steel-and-oak machine, gingerly feeding 50-year-old horsehair onto the conveyer belt.
It's Curtains for Congress, Roll Call, May 16, 2007
Tucked away on the tough-to-find "WA" level of the Rayburn House Office Building is a long hallway that to the uninformed passerby doesn't look very different from countless other windowless routes that criss-cross beneath Capitol Hill.
Revved Up, Roll Call, May 2, 2007
If the aging red Camaro was parked in front of Rep. Bobby Rush's (D-Ill.) house instead of the garage of his Capitol Hill office, the police probably would have towed it away long ago.
Hill Faces Challenge to Overhaul Benefit Plans, Roll Call, April 30, 2007
With higher pay and new career opportunities luring more legislative branch employees to the private sector, Members and Hill officials are looking at ways to use benefits and other incentives to retain Congressional workers.
Beard to Present 'Green' Report Today, Roll Call, April 19, 2007
House Democratic leaders will receive a preliminary report today from their Chief Administrative Officer, Dan Beard, on recommendations for reducing the environmental impact of House office buildings.
Chief, Appropriators Keep Pushing for Radio Upgrades, Roll Call, April 2, 2007
Lawmakers and Capitol Police officials continued last week to stress the need for a new radio communications system - which one Senator called "the highest priority" - even though the department did not request funding for it in the fiscal 2008 budget.
Beard Wants Better Benefits for House Employees, The Hill, March 29, 2007
CAO Hearing Likely to Put Focus on Benefits, Roll Call, March 29, 2007
With budget numbers as its ultimate focus, a House Appropriations subcommittee meeting today is likely to center its discussion on issues that directly effect the people who work in the House, including increasing health benefits and child care services.
209 House Office Moves, All in a (Few) Day's Work for CAO, Roll Call, March 5, 2007
Dan Beard, the newly installed Chief Administrative Officer of the House, has been involved in a number of Congressional office moves during his previous stints on various House and Senate staffs.
Leaders Ask Beard for a 'Greener' House, Roll Call, March 5, 2007
Responding to a request from House leaders, Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard will spend the next few months working with other Congressional officials to come up with new ways to make the Capitol more Earth-friendly.
House Leaders Want Capitol to Go Green, The Hill, March 2, 2007
Beard Unretires (Again) to be CAO, Roll Call, February 8, 2007
Somehow retirement just doesn't seem to stick for Dan Beard, who will take over the job of the Chief Administrative Officer of the House next week.
Pelosi Picks New Clerk and CAO, Roll Call, January 31, 2007
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has tapped Lorraine Miller to serve as the Clerk of the House for the 110th Congress and is expected to announce today that Dan Beard will serve as the new Chief Administrative Officer.
