Politics / House of Representatives House Chamber Evacuated Over Suspicious Powder Substance determined to be harmless, authorities say By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff Posted Sep 13, 2010 2:09 PM CDT Copied A worker climbs the Capitol dome in Washington, Monday, Sept. 13, 2010, doing maintenance. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) The House chamber was evacuated today after a suspicious white powder was found on the gallery floor, the Washington Post reports. "Nothing hazardous was found," a police spokeswoman said this afternoon. The House is still on recess until tomorrow, so only pages were present in the chamber when the powder was discovered. (More House of Representatives stories.) Report an error