The Capitol Hill Police Get Paid by Congress -- In Applause

The Capitol Hill Police have been on the job since the government shut down on midnight on Tuesday without any idea of when their next paycheck will come. In the aftermath of Thursday's shooting though, the Democratic and Republican lawmakers they protect joined together to compensate with something even better than money: clapping. 

The force, one of a number of law enforcement agencies active in the capital, is largely excepted from the shutdown, meaning that they still come to work but, as the Washington Post explained last month, won't get a paycheck until Congress passes a budget.

When the House of Representatives came to order after the bizarre incident behind the Supreme Court put Capitol Hill on lockdown, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland asked for the opportunity to address the body. "At the outset," he began, "I know I join the Majority Leader in expressing our gratitude to the Capitol Police." He was then interrupted with over 30 seconds of sustained applause which evolved into a standing ovation. 

Read more on The Atlantic Wire.