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Blame It on the Rain: House Departs for August Recess

A rainy last session day in D.C. as captured by Roll Call’s Bill Clark

Arkansas Rep. Bruce Westerman walks down the House steps in the pouring rain on Friday, following the final votes as Congress leaves town for its summer recess. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Arkansas Rep. Bruce Westerman walks down the House steps in the pouring rain on Friday, following the final votes as Congress leaves town for its summer recess. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

While the Senate is scheduled to stay on in Washington for at least another few days to take care of legislative business, House lawmakers on Friday finished up their final votes ahead of the summer recess.

And it was just in time, too, as heavy downpours hit the nation’s capital, with a D.C. area flash flood watch in effect through Saturday afternoon.

Here is a look at the day in pictures:

UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Tourists at the Capitol seek shelter during a torrential downpour in Washington on Friday, July 28, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Tourists at the Capitol seek shelter during a torrential downpour in Washington on Friday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Tourists at the Capitol seek shelter during a torrential downpour in Washington on Friday, July 28, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Tourists at the Capitol seek shelter during a torrential downpour in Washington on Friday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, walks up the House steps in the rain for the final votes before Congress leaves town for their summer recess on Friday, July 28, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Ohio Rep. Steve Stivers walks up the House steps in the rain for the final votes on Friday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., walks to the covered carriage entrance of the Capitol during a rain storm for the final votes before Congress leaves town for their summer recess on Friday, July 28, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Indiana Rep. André Carson walks to the covered carriage entrance of the Capitol during a rainstorm for the final votes on Friday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., prepares to walk down the House steps in the pouring rain following the final votes as Congress leaves town for their summer recess on Friday, July 28, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Westerman prepares to walk down the House steps in the pouring rain following the final votes on Friday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan., covers herself with a newspaper as she runs down the House steps in the pouring rain following the final votes as Congress leaves town for their summer recess on Friday, July 28, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins covers herself with a newspaper as she runs down the House steps in the pouring rain. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., takes shelter from the rain under the carriage entrance as he waits for his ride following the final votes as Congress leaves town for their summer recess on Friday, July 28, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
West Virginia Rep. Evan Jenkins takes shelter from the rain under the carriage entrance as he waits for his ride. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., left, and Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, wait for their rides under the carriage entrance during a rain storm following the final votes as Congress leaves town for their summer recess on Friday, July 28, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, left, and Texas Rep. Kay Granger wait for their rides under the carriage entrance during a rainstorm following the final votes on Friday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - JULY 28: Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., gets in a car as Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., waits for his ride under the carriage entrance during a rain storm following the final votes as Congress leaves town for their summer recess on Friday, July 28, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Rep. Francis Rooney gets in a car as fellow Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan waits for his ride under the carriage entrance. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

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