For
Immediate
Release: January
8, 2013
CHAIRMAN
SCHUMER
INVITES THE REVEREND LUIS CORTÉS TO OFFER THE OPENING
PRAYER AT THE 2013 PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL LUNCHEON
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer,
Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (
JCCIC), announced that he has invited The Reverend
Luis Cortés to offer the opening prayer at the 2013 Presidential
Inaugural Luncheon following the Inaugural ceremonies at the U.S.
Capitol on January 21, 2013. The luncheon will be hosted by the
Joint Committee to honor President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe
Biden.
“It’s my privilege to invite The Reverend Luis Cortés to offer
the opening prayer at the Inaugural Luncheon,” said Schumer. “As a
devoted and respected Evangelical leader, The Reverend has dedicated
his life to making his community, his county and the world a better
place to live. I look forward to his prayer, and am thrilled that he
will play such a key role in these historic events.”
“Chairman Schumer and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural
Ceremonies have bestowed a great honor on me by asking me to serve
during the inauguration,” said The Reverend Cortés. “It is a
unique opportunity for which I am grateful to Senator Schumer and the
Committee. I look forward to my participation.”
In 1987 The Reverend Luis Cortés founded Esperanza, the largest
Hispanic faith-based evangelical network in the United States. Under
his leadership and dedication, Esperanza continued to grow and expand
its services. Esperanza now helps to fight poverty, crime and improve
access to quality schools and affordable housing.
The Reverend Cortés will offer the opening prayer at the 57
th
Presidential Inaugural Luncheon, following the Inaugural Ceremonies.
Attendees will include the newly sworn in President and Vice President,
Congressional leaders, members of the Cabinet and former Presidents and
Vice Presidents who attend at the Inaugural Ceremonies. Additional
details regarding the luncheon will be provided at a later date.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is
responsible for the oversight and planning of the Presidential
Inauguration and related ceremonies on the U.S. Capitol grounds.
The Joint Committee was authorized by S. Con. Res. 35, which passed the
Senate on March 1, 2012, and the House on March 5
th.
Members of
JCCIC are appointed by the Vice
President and the Speaker of the House. In accordance with tradition,
the Senate representatives on
JCCIC are
Majority Leader Harry Reid, Rules Committee Chairman Charles E.
Schumer, and Rules Committee Ranking Member Lamar Alexander. The
House members of
JCCIC are Speaker John A.
Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Democratic Leader Nancy
Pelosi.
S. Con. Res. 35 established the date of the 2013 Inauguration as
Monday, January 21, 2013, since January 20, 2013 falls on a
Sunday. This is the seventh time in U.S. history that the
constitutionally mandated Inauguration date has fallen on a
Sunday. The last time was for President Ronald Reagan’s second
Inauguration in 1985. When this occurs, the public ceremonies
traditionally are held on Monday.
In addition, January 21, 2013 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It will
be the second time that this federal holiday has coincided with a
Presidential Inauguration. The first was President Bill Clinton’s
second Inauguration in 1997.
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