House Speaker Mike Johnson will travel to London to address the U.K.’s Parliament in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.
He will be the first sitting speaker to do so.
“As our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of American Independence, I am honored and humbled by Speaker Hoyle’s invitation to address Parliament,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement.
Lindsay Hoyle, speaker of the House of Commons, said in his statement that he was “honoured in this 250th anniversary year of American Independence to welcome Speaker Johnson to Parliament.”
The Louisiana Republican’s address is scheduled for Jan. 20.
“The U.S. and the U.K. have stood together as pillars of peace and security across generations,” he said. “We forged this important friendship in the great wars of the 20th century, but the true source of our strength comes from our shared commitment to individual freedom, human dignity and the rule of law, which together form the exceptional, joint heritage of the English-speaking world.”
Mr. Hoyle said that inviting Mr. Johnson continues to “acknowledge the enduring close relationship between our parliaments and people.”
“As America begins its Semiquincentennial celebration, I will be happy to visit one of the great shrines of democracy itself, where the principles that launched the long struggle for American liberty were debated and refined,” Mr. Johnson said.
His overseas trip will be one of many events to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S.
The activities, under the purview of the Salute to America 250 Task Force, began Memorial Day last year and will continue through July Fourth.
