Congressman Lamar Smith 21st district of Texas

Contact: Brian Baluta 202-225-4236

Washington, Jul 13, 2009 - Congressman Lamar Smith welcomed Haley Gray, a junior at New Braunfels High School, to Capitol Hill last week to participate in the 2009 U.S. House of Representatives Page Program. Smith sponsored Gray and she is one of 72 students selected from across the nation for the program.

“We are proud to have Haley representing the 21st District of Texas,” said Smith. “Her participation as an athletic trainer at New Braunfels High School, involvement in student council, and extensive volunteer work with First United Methodist Church has shown great dedication to her community. She will be an asset to the page program.”

“I am excited about this great opportunity,” Gray said. “I’m looking forward to learning more about the legislative process in our nation’s Capitol. This is a chance of lifetime, and I am honored to be nominated for the program.”

For nearly 200 years, the U.S. House of Representatives has given young people the opportunity to observe and participate in the legislative process. House Pages assist members of Congress with their legislative duties by delivering correspondence, legislative materials and small packages within the congressional complex, answering phones in the Member cloakrooms, and preparing the House Floor for sessions. Students learn about the legislative process through a hands-on approach.