U.S. Senate Health and Fitness Facilities Regulations

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, pursuant to Senate Rule XXXIII, the Committee on Rules and Administration adopted the U.S. Senate Health and Fitness Facilities Regulations, on May 6, 2025, which supersede and replace the current ``Guidelines for Senate Tennis Courts,'' ``Regulations for the Senate Health Facility in the Office of the Architect of the Capitol,'' and ``Regulations Governing Use of the Senate Health and Fitness Facility.''

The updated regulations consolidate rules for the use of the fitness facilities, including the Senators' gym, staff gym, and athletic courts. The updated regulations define eligible staff for membership purposes and reflect current operational practices.

Senate Health and Fitness Facilities Regulations [Adopted by the Committee on Rules and Administration on May 6, 2025,

pursuant to rule XXXIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate]

1.0 Scope--The United States Senate offers the use of health and fitness facilities within the Senate office buildings to Senators and staff. These regulations establish the policies, procedures, and management responsibilities for these facilities.

2.0 Definitions--For purposes of these regulations, the following terms shall have the meaning specified.

2.1 AOC means the Architect of the Capitol.

2.2 Athletic courts means the multi-sport courts located in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

2.3 Disbursing Office means the Secretary of the Senate's Disbursing Office.

2.4 Eligible senator means a U.S. Senator.

2.5 Eligible staff means an employee of the Senate, employee of the Superintendent's Office, a Senate detailee or paid fellow whose contract duration is greater than or equal to six months, or an employee of a federal government agency liaison office housed within Senate space. Interns, clerks, unpaid fellows, members of the media, and other non- government employees that provide services to the Senate are not covered under this term.

2.6 Fitness facilities means the U.S. Senate Health and Fitness Facilities, including the Senators' gym, staff gym, athletic courts, and all the associated equipment, furnishings, and fixtures.

2.7 Membership means the ongoing state of being qualified to use the fitness facilities by meeting the criteria to be an eligible senator or staffer and paying the required membership fee.

2.8 Membership fee means the monthly or annual payment made to maintain a fitness facilities membership.

2.9 Rules Committee means the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

2.10 Senators' gym means the gym located in the Russell Senate Office Building.

2.11 Superintendent's Office means the Architect of the Capitol's Senate Superintendent Office.

2.12 Staff gym means the gym located in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

2.13 Support office means the office of an internal congressional entity that provides services to the U.S. Senate including but not limited to, the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, the Secretary of the Senate, and the United States Capitol Police.

3.0 General Information--The AOC shall supervise and manage the fitness facilities subject to rules, regulations, policies, and fee structures approved by the Rules Committee.

3.1 The Senators' gym is reserved only for use by eligible senators with memberships. No guests of any sort are permitted.

3.2 The staff gym is reserved only for use by eligible staff with memberships. No guests of any sort are permitted.

3.3 The athletic courts are reserved only for use by eligible senators with memberships to the Senators' gym, their current Chiefs of Staff and/or Staff Directors with memberships to the staff gym, and support office programs approved by the Rules Committee. Guests are permitted pursuant to section 5.4.

3.4 No photography, filming, live streaming, or media related activities are permitted in the fitness facilities.

3.5 No food or event setup is permitted in the fitness facilities.

3.6 The maximum occupancy for the courts is determined by the AOC Fire Marshal and shall not be exceeded.

Membership--Prior to using a fitness facility, eligible senators and staff shall fill out a membership application to their respective fitness facility, which must be approved or denied by the AOC.

4.1 If an eligible senator's membership is approved by the AOC, the senator shall pay a monthly or annual membership fee through the Disbursing Office.

4.1.1 The Disbursing Office shall provide monthly the list of senators paying a membership fee to the AOC.

4.2 If an eligible staffer's membership is approved by the AOC, the staffer shall pay a monthly membership fee through the AOC.

4.3 Memberships are continuous until the eligible senator or staff cancels the membership or no longer meets the criteria for membership.

4.4 A membership may be revoked by the AOC in cases of noncompliance with fitness facilities policies. Athletic Court Reservations--Reservations are required to use the athletics courts.

5.1 Reservations shall be made through the AOC no more than one month in advance.

5.2 Reservations are first come, first served, and can be no more than two hours in length.

5.3 Senator reservations have priority and shall supersede the reservations of Chiefs of Staff and Staff Directors if the same reservation time period is requested.

5.4 Reservations may include guests without memberships, so long as the reservation holder is present for the entire duration of the reservation.

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