I've noticed that the walls in the Senate chamber have recently changed from yellow to blue. Why the redecorating? Silver Spring, MD - 5/3/00

The Senate Chamber before... (Click on picture for larger image)

... and after. (Click on picture for larger image)

The Senate took advantage of the recent Easter recess to brighten up its chamber. Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, recently quoted Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Greg Casey on the subject. He said there was "concern [about] the colors on the wall, [that] the material is dirty and faded, [and] that yellow is not the most complimentary color. Particularly on television, it has a tendency to wash out."

The blue color was chosen to replace the fading yellow damask installed during the last renovation of the chamber in 1950.

A bipartisan group of Senate leadership staff and representatives from the offices of the Architect of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Senate, the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, the Senate Curator, and the Senate Recording Studio has been looking at the overall need to restore the chamber while yet respecting its historical integrity. Look for additional changes before year's end.