Why Biden s speech before Congress isn t called the State of the Union By Caroline Linton What to expect in Biden s address to Congress
President Biden on Wednesday will deliver a speech before a joint session of Congress, a speech that is typically called the State of the Union. The tradition of a president addressing Congress is set forth in the Constitution, which designates that the president shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.
But Mr. Biden s speech will not be designated a State of the Union address. In fact, the previous six presidents did not call their first message before a joint session of Congress the State of the Union, according to the Congressional Research Office. These speeches, given in the first few months of a new presidency, typically occur soon after the inaugural address. As a result, every presi
Biden’s speech to a joint session of Congress comes as the House is in the middle of a committee work period, with many members out of town, and the Senate is set to leave town on Thursday for a one-week break.
Biden’s speech is going to be unlike any other previous president’s speech to Congress given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions.
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Roughly 200 people will be allowed in the House chamber, with no lawmakers allowed to bring guests. The attendance cap also means some members won’t be able to attend. A memo from acting House Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett warned that any members who do not have an invite from congressional leadership “will not be permitted in the Capitol after 5 p.m.”
House GOP Attendance to Joe Biden s Congressional Address Likely to Be Slim Due to Recess
On 4/26/21 at 3:12 PM EDT
As President Joe Biden is set to give his first address before Congress, House Republicans are holding a private retreat in Florida.
The House is not in session, and most lawmakers are working remotely. It s expected that few Republican members will make the trek to Washington to attend Biden s speech on Wednesday.
Biden s address is an invitation-only event due to COVID-19 safety protocols, the
Associated Press reported. The restrictions on guests has the security benefit of limiting the number of people in the Capitol building for the first major indoor event of Biden s presidency, which began two weeks after the January 6 riot. Fencing remains around the U.S. Capitol, and National Guard troops are still there.
Clyburn Is First Democrat Fined $5,000 For Evading Capitol Security Screening forbes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from forbes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Top House Democrat Says He Was Fined $5,000 for Evading Metal Detectors at Capitol
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the No. 3 Democrat in the House, said he was fined $5,000 for evading metal detectors inside the U.S. Capitol and plans to appeal.
“Yeah,” he said in response to a question from CNN on Thursday about whether he was fined. Clyburn added that “I have no idea” what had happened.
“It’s just somebody on the other side trying to cause mischief,” Clyburn said, without elaborating.
According to Politico, Clyburn was seen going around the detectors after he used the bathroom during a vote on the Capitol floor on Tuesday.