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Word on the Hill: Long Live the Dome

It's class picture day for incoming House freshmen

Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers gets to show off the newly restored Capitol on Tuesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers gets to show off the newly restored Capitol on Tuesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

With a little more than two months to go until Inauguration Day, the Capitol Dome restoration is done and ready to be shown off.

Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers will conduct a briefing on the restoration, in which he is expected to officially announce the successful completion. The briefing will take place at the House Elm Tree (on the East Front) at 9 a.m.

The restoration included removal of old paint, repairs to the cast iron and stone repainting. Tours of the dome will take place throughout the day.

Watch for HOH’s coverage online Tuesday.

Orientation schedule

At 10:45 a.m., the official members-elect class photograph is scheduled to take place at the House East Front Capitol steps.

At 11:30 a.m., the orientation’s welcome lunch is scheduled to take place in the Cannon Caucus Room.

For information about some of the newly elected members, check out HOH’s tip sheet.

Rep. Johnson honored with room in Rayburn

House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, will dedicate a room in the Rayburn House Office Building to the committee’s Social Security subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson, R-Texas. B-318 Rayburn will be dedicated at a reception at 10 a.m. in Room 1100 of the Longworth House Office Building.

‘Disenfranchised’

Actor Woody Harrelson was spotted taking a tour of the Capitol on Monday afternoon. He was in town for the premiere of the film “LBJ,” in which he plays former President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Harrelson posed for a picture next to Johnson’s bust, which is located on the second floor of the Senate.

Asked by a reporter how he felt after the election, Harrelson replied with one word: “Disenfranchised.”

D.C. cultural event of the day

The Power of Film Awards Dinner, hosted by America Abroad Media, will honor Reps. Ed Royce, R-Calif., and Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., for their work on issues to empower media. Also slated to attend is Saudi actor and comedian Nasser Al Qasabi, who will be honored as one of AAM’s 2016 Media Leaders.

The event takes place at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., from 7 to 10 p.m.

Overheard

“I didn’t realize there would be press here.”

— Rep.-elect Jamie Raskin, D-Md., as he got out of a car to check in to the Capitol Hill Hotel for orientation.

“I kind of like Pelosi staying around. As long as she’s there, I think we stay in the majority.”

— House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, responding to a question that speculated on the possible ouster of Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

What’s going on?

Have any tips, announcements or Hill happenings? Send them to AlexGangitano@cqrollcall.com.

Bridget Bowman contributed to this report.

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