Letter to President Trump SOTU

0.35 MB·English

January 16, 2019

‘The Prosident
The While House

1600 Pennsy_vanin Avenus, Nrthorst
Washinglon, D.C. 20500

Dear Me. President:

On January 3% ic was my privilege as Speaker to invite you Wp deliver the State of the Lnion
aude on January 29! Lhe Constitution calls for the President to “fiom tite to time give to the
Congress Information of tae Stace of the Union.” During the 19% Centiny and 9 nil the
presidency of Woodrow Wilson, these sanual State of the Lnian messuyes were delivered to
Congress in writing, And since the sin of moxicrn budgeting in Fiscal Year 1977, u Slue af the
Union address has never been delivered ding a government shutéown,

In September 2018, Scerciary Nielsen designated State ofthe Union Addresses as National Special
Security Events (NSSTs), recognizing the ucee for “the full resources of the Pesensl Government
to be brought to hear” in ensure the security of those events, ‘The extraandinury dermanils presented

by NSSE-s require weeks uf detailed planning with dozens of agencies working together us prepare
for the safety of all paticipants

‘The US. Seerel Service was designated as the lead federal aguney resaonsible for coordinating,
planning, exercising, and implementing security for National Special Sccurity Events by Public
Law 106-544, December 19, 2000, However. hoth the l..S. Secret Service and the Department of
Llomeland Security have net been funded for 26 days now with eritial departments keenstrang
by furlough

Sadly, given the security concerss andl unless government re-open th ws
‘work together to deteimine another suitable due er government has re-opened for Us address
or lr you 1o consider delivering your State of Uie Lic airess im waiting ro the Canaress on
Haowary 29"

Thank you for your attention ur this rae.

Sincerely

Speaker of the House