The timing and logistics of President Joe Biden’s scheduled address to Congress on April 28 are drawing fire from a group of House Republicans, who say COVID-19 restrictions will exclude too many members and that it interferes with a period of time set to meet with constituents.
The House of Representatives is currently scheduled to be on a break from April 26 to April 30, with most lawmakers working at home in their districts. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced last Tuesday she invited Biden for April 28 to deliver his first address to Congress. The event has been postponed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to prevent large groups from gathering in the chamber.
Pelosi, however, is expected to invite only a limited number of congressional lawmakers to the House chamber as a result of the COVID-19-capacity rules of the floor. The Republican lawmakers say this is unacceptable and unprecedented and are demanding that all members of Congress be invited.
“In our nation’s history, it is unprecedented to convene a joint session of Congress such as this without extending an invitation to all Members of Congress. As you know, the House Chamber and House Gallery can accommodate about 950 individuals,” says the letter from GOP Reps. Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, Russ Fulcher of Idaho, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Tom McClintock of California, Gregory Steube of Florida, Van Taylor of Texas, Claudia Tenney of New York, and Randy Weber of Texas.
‘LIMITED’ ATTENDANCE PLANNED FOR BIDEN’S FIRST ADDRESS TO JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS
The group wants Pelosi, a California Democrat, to reschedule the joint address when Congress is actually in session.
“We understand the need to prioritize the safety of Members and believe strongly that with the right precautions and social distancing measures a space designed to accommodate almost 1,000 individuals can operate at about 50 percent capacity to safely accommodate all members of the House and Senate who attend,” they said.
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The Republican lawmakers note that on Jan. 3, “hundreds of members were on the House Floor for their swearing in, including hundreds of guests in the gallery. If it could be safely done then, it can be safely done now, especially with more members vaccinated than ever before.”
The lawmakers requested a response before Friday.
Biden’s speech to Congress will not be a State of the Union address since he was not in office for much of the preceding year about which he would report. The first presidential speeches to joint sessions of Congress usually take place in February.
