The gallery provides seating for the press overlooking the Senate floor, as well as workspace and telephones for reporters covering the Senate. Gallery staff monitor floor action, coordinate media coverage at Senate hearings and press conferences, are available to answer questions and take phone messages for reporters, and generally assist the media.
The Senate Press Gallery is located in Room S-316 of the U.S. Capitol. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, and on weekends if the Senate is in session. When the Senate is in session, hours of the gallery are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or as long as the Senate meets, whichever is later. During recess periods, the gallery is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The gallery can be reached at (202) 224-0241. Reporters working in the gallery can be reached at that extension, and messages will be taken. After hours, information on the Senate's floor action and schedule can be obtained by calling the Republican Cloakroom recording at (202) 224-8601, or the Democratic Cloakroom at (202) 224-8541.
Accreditation for daily newspapers and wire services to cover both House and Senate are handled through the Senate Press Gallery. Contact: Gallery Staff at (202) 224-0241.
Press releases are available in the Senate Press Gallery in room S-316 of the U.S. Capitol. Press releases from Senate offices and committees remain on file for 30 days.
The Standing Committee of Correspondents was founded in 1879 to govern admission into the House Press Gallery and in 1884, began governing the Senate Press Gallery. In 1916, the Senate Rules Committee gave the Standing Committee the right to designate gallery employees.
The Standing Committee of Correspondents has the responsibility of overseeing the press arrangements for the quadrennial national political conventions and presidential inaugural ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The press gallery Superintendent works with convention planners and the joint inaugural committee to ensure the best possible press coverage.
Standing Committee of Correspondents