Retain school age pages, Capitol Hill panelists say

Three of the five-member task force studying the congressional page system recommend that the program for high school students continue.

One other member wanted to raise the age and another, thought to favor keeping minors in the program, was unavailable for questioning by the press. The age issue is critical because all members said if high school students - most of whom are underage - continue as pages, Congress must take a much larger role in their education and supervision. The task force was formed in response to recent charges of sexual misconduct and drug abuse involving Congress and the pages.