Washington, D.C. – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) issued the following statement regarding the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) decision to restrict broad public attendance at the upcoming Presidential Inauguration Ceremony:

“My office has received many ticket requests from constituents throughout the district for the upcoming Presidential Inaugural Ceremony. I deeply appreciate the patience that has been shown to us as my office awaited more information from the inaugural committee. However, it has been confirmed that the upcoming inauguration will not include a broad public audience due to the ongoing pandemic.

“On January 20^th, our nation as well as the world will witness an innovative and reimagined historic event as President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris are sworn-in to office; all while ensuring the health and safety of Americans.

“This was a decision made by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies in close consultation with public health, medical experts, and the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

“I applaud the decision to put Americans’ safety first, and while I always look forward to having guests for inaugurations, we must be proactive in protecting the health of our community.

“To all those who have reached out to my office, I apologize for this inconvenience. Thank you again for your patience and may God bless the United States of America.”