Politics | House of Representatives House Chamber Evacuated Over Suspicious Powder Substance determined to be harmless, authorities say By Nick McMaster 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. Read These Next A space capsule carrying ashes of 160 people crashed in the ocean. A lesson in minding your own business ... at 30,000 feet. The death toll in the Texas floods has risen to 27, including 9 kids. Desperate search for missing campers continues in Texas. Report an error