Congress Beats the Heat With Seersuckers and Ice Cream -- PICTURES

By National Journal Staff

Updated: June 22, 2012 | 10:40 a.m.
June 22, 2012 | 10:24 a.m.

Members of Congress and staff got a chance on Thursday afternoon to beat the heat at the 30th Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party, which was sponsored by the International Ice Cream Association, the Milk Industry Foundation, the National Cheese Institute, and member organizations of the International Dairy Foods Association.

More than 2,000 gallons of ice cream and frozen yogurt and 6,000 root beer floats were planned for the event, according to an IDFA news release.

Below are some scenes from Thursday's event:

As part of the tradition, and in the face of a 100-degree heat index, Brett King, who works in the office of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., wore a seersucker suit. (Chet Susslin)

Gabriella Geleonibus hands an ice cream cone to Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. (Chet Susslin)

Stacks of soda await their fate as root beer floats. (Chet Susslin)

Root beer floats are assembled behind the lines of eager Capitol Hill staff. (Chet Susslin)

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