Nearly three years after halting specially scheduled early morning tours, the Capitol Guide Service will resume its “Congressional Tour” service today.

The service, which will operate on a trial basis through early September, allows visitors to schedule private tours of the Capitol before the building opens to the public. The tours are conducted by a Capitol guide, but must be scheduled through a Member’s office.

[IMGCAP(1)] “We encourage you to take advantage of the Congressional Tours, and believe that this service will help your office to accommodate constituents and offer a viable alternative to staff-led tours,” House Administration Chairman Bob Ney (R-Ohio) and ranking member John Larson (D-Conn.) wrote in a July 13 “Dear Colleague” letter.

The tours, offered on weekdays, will be limited to 15 visitors. Lawmakers will be allowed to schedule one tour each day.

Now Playing. The House Recording Studio recently announced it will reduce the price of analog services available to Members, while also offering new digital services.

“[P]rices for current analog services are being reduced to a level that is comparable to those in the private sector,” House Administration officials wrote in a July 12 “Dear Colleague” letter.

Prices for “video duplication” will be reduced to $10 for each 30-minute segment or partial segment. The price scale previously ranged from $35 for a 30-minute tape to $60 for a 60-minute recording. Audio studio rates have been cut from $50 per 15-minute session to $20 per 15-minute session.

The recording studio, located in the Rayburn House Office Building, has also added “audio post production” used for editing and converting audio materials; “digital video conversion” used to convert videotape for use on Web sites; and video graphics to its services.

House Pays Tribute to Ford. A resolution honoring former President Gerald Ford on his 91st birthday, celebrated today, passed unanimously this week. Rep. John Dingell (D) and other members of the Michigan delegation sponsored the tribute.

Ford’s history of government service is a long one. He represented Michigan for 25 years in the House, spending eight years as Minority Leader, before resigning to become Richard Nixon’s vice president in 1973. In less than one year, Nixon resigned and Ford became president.

“He is a man who worked effectively to unite the country at a time when it was divided. We could use another president with the same goals in the White House today,” Dingell said.

— Jennifer Yachnin and Liza Gutierrez