First Place
Jason Reed, Reuters
Answering to Congress: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is seen before testifying at a Joint Economic Committee hearing in Washington, on June 7, 2012.
Second Place
T.J. Kirkpatrick, freelance
Hallway Stakeout: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, talks with reporters after a caucus of Senate republicans with only hours left before the midnight deadline to avoid the fiscal cliff, in Washington, on Dec. 31, 2012.
Third Place
J. Scott Applewhite, The Associated Press
John and George: Under a portrait of George Washington, House Speaker John Boehner skips out after a three-hour photo session with members of the new 113th Congress that convened on Jan. 3, 2013, in Washington.
Award of Excellence
Chris Maddaloni, CQ Roll Call
Call for Help: Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y.; and Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., watch Karen Duckett, 51, of Laurel, Md., wipe away her tears as she speaks about the troubles of her unemployment at a news conference to call for a renewal of federal unemployment insurance programs.
Award of Excellence
Mary F. Calvert, freelance
What A Drag: United States Capitol Police arrest and drag Rives Grogan who shouted anti-abortion slogans from the visitors gallery of the U.S. Senate chambers, down the hallway in the basement of the Capitol in Washington. It was his first day back after a restraining order barring him from the Capitol had expired.
Award of Excellence
Ricky Carioti, The Washington Post
Still Serving: Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., center, and other representatives look on as members vote for Speaker of the House during the opening session of the 113th Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 3, 2013, in Washington. Duckworth is a double amputee Iraq war veteran.
Award of Excellence
T. J. Kirkpatrick, freelance
No Deal: “It looks awful,” said Majority Whip Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., while speaking with reporters about the faltering negotiations on a fiscal cliff compromise at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Dec. 30, 2012.