Press Releases

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson released the following statement on why she is not attending President-elect Donald J. Trump's inauguration ceremony:

Much has been made about Democratic lawmakers sitting out President-elect Donald J. Trump's inauguration ceremony. I struggled for months to make the choice between the ceremony and a family wedding also scheduled to take place this weekend. I truly felt torn and it was a difficult decision, but I ultimately decided to stay in Miami to attend my god-daughter's nuptials.

I will, however, witness the historic transfer of power from President Obama to President Trump in my district office with a group of young men who participated in the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project. They feel for obvious reasons an emotional connection to Mr. Obama, but the next few years could profoundly impact their lives and it is important for them to be equally engaged.

Mr. Trump's inauguration speech will provide an unparalleled opportunity for him to set the tone for his administration and share his vision for how he will be a "president for all Americans." I am eager to hear what he has to say.

There are some issues on which we will inherently disagree, such as plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act. But more important, there are issues on which we can find common ground and work together for the good of the American people.

As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I look forward to working with this new administration on initiatives to end the school-to-prison pipeline and implement Title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and Title IV of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which provide communities and schools with the resources they need to help students stay invested and engaged in both their educations and their futures.