House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement announcing the installation of the official Louisiana State Seal in his office inside the U.S. Capitol: "For these past six years, it has been an honor to serve as the House Republican Whip. One of the great distinctions of serving in House leadership is the honor of having an office in the historic United States Capitol. The office I reside in has more than a 200 year history, including serving for many years as the House Majority Leader’s office, which includes such giants as Tip O’Neill, and notably for Louisiana, then-Majority Leader Hale Boggs. One of the traditions of my office has been that the Architect of the Capitol imprints the state seal for each person who resides there. By installing the updated Louisiana State Seal inside my office, we’ve added another permanent mark dedicated to the State of Louisiana inside the U.S. Capitol, which will remain for years to come. It is a great honor to be able to leave another permanent mark from the great State of Louisiana on the historic U.S. Capitol." Background: The Office of the Republican Whip consists of four rooms inside the U.S. Capitol constructed as part of the Capitol’s House Extension and have been occupied dating back to 1867. The Capitol’s House Extension was designed by architect Thomas U. Walter in 1851–1853 and constructed under the supervision of Captain Montgomery C. Meigs, of the Corps of Engineers, from 1853 to 1859. The extensions were needed to relieve a critical lack of space; the new House Extension provided a much larger meeting place for the House of Representatives as well as additional committee rooms. Currently, the groin-vaulted ceiling is painted with decorative rinceaux of scrolling vines and birds with central medallions containing seals. The seals on the ceiling of the room go back to its earliest known occupant, the Committee on House Accounts, and most likely date from the turn of the century. The seals of the United States, the Treasury of North America, and the House of Representatives are believed to be the original designs. Since then, Members occupying the office have installed seals from the states they represent. The installation of the Louisiana State Seal adds another permanent mark honoring Louisiana in the U.S. Capitol.