Lawmakers can bring a single guest to the inauguration of Joe Biden on Jan. 20, senators said on Wednesday, announcing a drastically scaled-down ceremony due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Sens. Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican, and Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, who lead the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, told fellow lawmakers they won’t get the usual bundle of tickets to distribute to family, friends, and constituents. Instead, each lawmaker will receive just one extra ticket.
“Traditionally, the JCCIC would distribute 200,000 tickets for the official ceremonies at the Capitol and provide ticket bundles to Members of the 117th Congress to distribute to constituents. For the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies, invitations to Members of the 117th Congress will be limited to themselves and one guest,” the two lawmakers said.
Biden has already called for people to watch the inauguration virtually.
“While the pandemic has forced us to limit in-person attendance, it also brings opportunities to honor our democracy in innovative ways so that Americans across the country can experience Inauguration Day from home,” Klobuchar said.
