Pelosi Announces Mexican President Felipe Calderón to Address Joint Meeting of Congress Next Month

Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced today that President Felipe Calderón of Mexico will address a Joint Meeting of Congress on May 19.

"Congress will warmly welcome President Calderón to the Capitol when he visits the United States next month as part of his state visit," said Speaker Pelosi. "As President of Mexico, our neighbor and friend, we look forward to hearing President Calderón’s message to the American people, and his views on ways to strengthen our border communities, fight organized crime, and reinforce the essential partnership between our two nations."

"Our countries may be separated by a border, but we share much in common — our values of faith, family, and love of our respective countries. Relations with Mexico are of utmost importance to the United States. President Calderón’s address to Congress will provide us with a renewed opportunity to strengthen our bonds of friendship, discuss our shared challenges, and embrace common opportunities."

In 2001, then-President of Mexico Vicente Fox addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress. Mexican-Americans are the largest Hispanic group in the United States — more than 12 percent of Americans trace their ancestry to Mexico.