01/24/2019
President Trump said he will not give his State of the Union address until the government shutdown ends following House Speaker Pelosi’s refusal to let the president use the House floor as a venue. Fox’s Chad Pergram has more in today’s “Speaker’s Lobby.”
I’m Chad Pergram with the Speaker’s Lobby.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says President Trump isn’t invited to give his State of the Union message at the Capitol on January 29th.
And the President can’t just roll up to the Capitol and demand to speak.
For each state of the Union speech, the House and Senate approve a concurrent resolution.
It authorizes the President to address both bodies during a Joint Session of Congress in the House chamber.
Pelosi says the House won’t consider such a resolution until the government is open.
But there is a House rule which allows the President to come to the House chamber if he wishes.
House Rule IV states that “the hall of the house shall be used only for the legislative business of the House and for caucus and conference meetings of its Members, except when the House agrees to take part in any ceremonies to be observed therein.”
Lawmakers are permitted in the House chamber as well as cabinet secretaries, foreign dignitaries and various Congressional officials such as the Architect of the Capitol and the Librarian of Congress.
And the President of the United States.
The President may not address the House without the adoption of the Concurrent resolution.
With the Speaker’s Lobby, Chad Pergram. Fox News.
