San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg will be in Washington D.C. Tuesday to attend the second State of the Union Address delivered by President Donald Trump.
All sitting members of Congress are allowed to bring one guest to the event and Nirenberg is joining Congressman Henry Cuellar. Nirenberg said he鈥檚 looking forward to attending and that every state of the union is historic 鈥� especially this one.
鈥淚t just so happens that we are in living some of the most impactful and unfortunately divisive times in our country鈥檚 history,鈥� Nirenberg said. 鈥淟ike most Americans, I鈥檒l be eager to hear what鈥檚 said before and after the speech and I鈥檒l be there without a tape delay.鈥�
Cuellar made his decision to bring Nirenberg due to a high number of congressional bills and issues that would impact municipalities and counties. He listed the defense bill and its impact on military bases as examples.
鈥淐ities are going to be impacted tremendously and I thought It was important to bring a mayor and I decided to go with Ron this year,鈥� he said.
Trump was originally scheduled to deliver the address on Jan 29. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rescinded her invitation due to the partial government shutdown.
The speaker proposed the new date of Feb. 5, which the president accepted.
Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat who also represents parts of San Antonio and Bexar County, is part of the bipartisan conference committee on border security.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what topics he鈥檚 going to cover,鈥� Cuellar said. 鈥淢y personal opinion, he鈥檚 spending too much capital on this 14th-century solution to a 21st-century issue that we have: the (border) wall. I live on the border and I understand we鈥檝e got to provide border security.鈥�
Next week also marks the start of the annual 鈥淪A to DA鈥� trip hosted by the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
The local delegation of 175 people includes Nirenberg and council members John Courage, Clayton Perry, Ana Sandoval and Rebecca Viagran; incoming City Manager Erik Walsh; Paula Gold-Williams of CPS Energy; and Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff and San Antonio Chamber of Commerce President Richard Perez.
Perez said a previous SA to DC trips resulted in approval to construct a new federal courthouse in San Antonio.
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Joey Palacios can be reached at Joey@TPR.org and on Twitter at @Joeycules
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