Skip to content

Word on the Hill: Harry Reid Gets His Portrait

Home-brewed beer and fond farewells

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, right, shown here with his successor Sen. Charles E. Schumer, will forever be a part of the Senate. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, right, shown here with his successor Sen. Charles E. Schumer, will forever be a part of the Senate. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid will be a part of the Capitol even after retirement.

Reid’s portrait will be unveiled at a ceremony at 3 p.m. today in the Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and incoming Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer are expected to attend. 

Check back for Roll Call’s coverage of the event.

Staffer-made beer

Claudia Urrabazo, deputy director of member services for House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., and Yuri Beckelman, deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., introduced their very Congress-y beer entitled “Approps Saison” on Wednesday. They brewed it themselves and took third place at the Brewers Association’s inaugural Hill Staff Homebrew Competition in the Rayburn House Office Building on Wednesday. Judges evaluated a six-pack of each entrant’s homebrew.

Senate gift exchange

From left to right: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., at the holiday gift exchange. (Photo courtesy of Senate Democrats)
From left to right: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., at the holiday gift exchange. (Photo courtesy of Franken’s office)

Minnesota Democrat Sen. Al Franken hosted the 6th annual Senate Secret Santa on Wednesday, which he organizes every year. Fifty-nine Senators participated this year.

“This is something we used to do at my elementary school back in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. It helped make sure that every kid got a gift, and it was a way to mix things up and give kids the chance to get to know one another,” Franken said in a statement. “So I thought I’d bring the same thing to the Senate.‎ Ever since I started hosting this event, it’s done exactly what it was supposed to do: create comity and good cheer in an institution badly in need of both, especially after a really divisive election year.”

From left to right: Sen. Kristin Gilibrand, D-N.Y., Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., at the holiday gift exchange. (Photo courtesy of Franken's office.)
From left to right: Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., at the holiday gift exchange. (Photo courtesy of Franken’s office.)

Rep. Polis has his class over for dinner

(Photo courtesy of Polis' office)
The Democratic class of the 111th Congress. (Photo courtesy of Polis’ office)

Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis hosted the Democratic members elected to the 111th Congress, his freshman class, at his home on Wednesday night. Polis lives on Capitol Hill.

Pelosi says goodbye to Boxer

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sat in the back of the Senate chamber on Wednesday, along with a handful of members of the California delegation, for Sen. Barbara Boxer’s farewell address.

Holiday parties happening today…

Leidos DSI, 5 to 8:30 p.m. in Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168. Open invite online.

ACI-NA, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Loews Madison Hotel, 1177 15th St. NW. Invite-only.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 6 to 8 p.m. at 1615 H St., NW. Invite-only.

Sen. Tillis takes ‘The Ellie Challenge’

The Ellie Challenge involves people trying to pronounce “Leukoencephalopathy” correctly. It’s named after former Capitol Hill staffer Beth Frigola McGinn’s eight-year-old daughter Ellie, who has the rare disease. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., took the challenge and nominated his colleagues to participate.

Overheard

“Harry, can you just look at me for a second?”

— Boxer, while paying tribute to Reid on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

Happy birthday to…

Rep. Raúl R. Labrador, R-Idaho, 49.

What’s going on?

Have any tips, announcements or Hill happenings? Send them to AlexGangitano@cqrollcall.comBridget Bowman contributed to this report.

Recent Stories

Firebrand Vought confirmed as White House budget director

Community health centers caught up in funding freeze

Democrats, seeking answers on cuts, turned away at EPA

District judge pauses federal buyout offer on day of deadline

USTR pick Greer would open markets to offset tariff retaliation

At the Races: Budget blues