Is President Bush’s dog Barney behind this?

For the third year in a row, the Senate is teaming up with Blue Cross Blue Shield and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for the annual Walking Works Capitol Hill Challenge, to see which legislative body — the House or the Senate — can walk from the Washington Monument to the Golden Gate Bridge (2,800 miles). That is, virtually.

This Friday and every Friday until July 1, aides can accrue more miles at the C Street park behind the Russell Senate Office Building. “It’s an opportunity to get out and get exercise,” said Jackie Fishman, media-relations manager for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. “It’s healthful. Walking is the most accessible, the best exercise. It’s also nice that you get the opportunity to take these dogs for a walk. Everybody benefits.”

Two weeks ago, aides who showed up for the 20-minute walk, which includes post stretching, got to walk Labradors. This week’s dogs will be borrowed from the Washington Humane Society.

Participants can walk guest dogs or bring their own dogs. The first 100 walkers will receive a free Starbucks gift card.

Rock the Vote rolls out red carpet

The star factor promises to be high tonight as Rock the Vote hosts an awards ceremony at the National Building Museum with an afterparty at Dream nightclub. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to building political power for young people celebrates 15 years of work by honoring entertainers and political leaders who have dedicated themselves to the cause.

This year’s awards dinner — chaired by former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and former Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.) — will honor former President Bill Clinton, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and the Black Eyed Peas.

The afterparty at Dream will feature a performance by Nikka Costa. Tickets are $25 at the door, and everyone is welcome.

Former Hill beauty participated in ‘The Amazing Race’

Life keeps looking up for Kelly McCorkle, a former aide to Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).

McCorkle, 26, who worked as a legislative correspondent when DeMint was serving in the House, can now add the CBS reality show “The Amazing Race 7” to her r�sum�. She participated in the race earlier this year with her boyfriend, Ron Young, 28. In the show, pairs of people travel to destinations around the world, competing on how quickly they can get there.

McCorkle gained some notoriety last year when she landed in the top 10 of The Hill’s list of the 50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill. She was crowned Miss South Carolina in 2002 and went on to compete in the Miss America pageant, in which she ranked in the top 15. She also studied with the Joffrey Ballet in New York. Young is just as impressive: He’s a former Iraq war POW and is a student at the University of Georgia who simultaneously works as a motivational speaker.

Announcements

Doolittle becomes a grandfather over congressional recess

In a statement released during recess, House Republican Conference Secretary John Doolittle (R-Calif.) announced that he and his wife, Julie, welcomed their first grandchild, Lorelai Taylor Doolittle, into the world last Thursday afternoon.

Lorelai was born in Conyers, Ga., weighed 7 lbs. 4.6 oz. and measured 19 inches from head to toe. She is the daughter of John Doolittle Jr. and his wife, Cassandra.

“Julie and I are so proud of this little miracle,” Rep. Doolittle said, “We have been blessed by this experience and wholeheartedly welcome becoming grandparents. Lorelai and her mother are happy and healthy — all fingers and toes are accounted for!”

The congressman will meet his granddaughter for the first time this weekend. He was unable to see her during the Memorial Day recess because he was at his home in Roseville, Calif. He and his wife commute between Roseville and their D.C.-area home in Oakton, Va.
Rep. Doolittle and his wife have two children. Their daughter, Courtney, is 13 and still lives with them.

Senate aide gets hitched and honeymoons on island

Tad DeHaven, a legislative assistant to Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), was married May 21 to Gretchen, a manager at J. Crew in Tysons Corner. DeHaven handles fiscal policy issues for the senator.

After the small, intimate wedding at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church in downtown Washington — an occasion that only included immediate family — the clan went to Mortons in Alexandria for the reception. The couple took off for a glorious eight-day honeymoon to Curacao, a Dutch island near Aruba, and to the Venezuelan coast.

“Oh it’s beautiful,” said DeHaven. “I wish I was still there. We had a view of the ocean. It was all-inclusive. We drank and ate a lot.”