On January 20, 2009, the 56th Presidential Inaugural will officially make President-elect Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States. The upcoming Inauguration Ceremony is perhaps the most highly anticipated in our nation’s history and estimates are that up to 5 million people will come to Washington, D.C., to witness the event.

Unfortunately, given the scarce number of tickets that were made available, I am no longer able to accommodate requests for inauguration tickets. However, you can still come and witness the Inauguration. For the first time in history, the entire length of the National Mall, beyond the ticketed section, will be open to the public for viewing. Please be aware that space on the National Mall is accessible on a first come, first served basis, and that you may need to arrive several hours prior to the ceremony to secure a spot. JumboTrons will be set up along the Mall to enhance viewing.

Please note that due to heightened security for the Inauguration, certain restrictions will be imposed on and near the National Mall. Officials have announced that the public will be allowed to take food, chairs, coolers, backpacks and strollers to the Mall. However, Inauguration ticket-holders will not be permitted to take those items past security into the ticketed area.

While the Mall grounds are open 24 hours a day, camping out overnight will not be allowed. You will be permitted onto the Mall at 4 a.m.

If you wish to view the parade on Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, please bear in mind that viewing sections along the sidewalk will be open no earlier than 7 a.m., and you will have to pass through security to access them.

In light of the unprecedented number of people that will be traveling to Washington, walking may be the most efficient mode of transportation. Metro, Washington, D.C.’s subway, will operate from 4 a.m. on January 20 until 2 a.m. on January 21. Parking at Metro facilities will be free from Saturday, January 17 through Inauguration Day. Please be aware that the following Metro closures will be in effect all day on the January 20:

• Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station on the Green-Yellow Line
• The Smithsonian station entrance on the National Mall on the Blue-Orange Line

All Metro station restrooms will be closed for security reasons on the 20th, as well. Aside from Metrorail, Metrobus will also be operating its Saturday Service schedule on the 20th, but major delays are expected downtown. Alternative pedestrian routes and increased shuttle service are also being considered for added convenience. Please visit Metro’s special Inauguration web site at http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/metro_events/inauguration.cfm if you have any additional questions.

There is a separate Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) which is responsible for planning the Inaugural Parade as well as the Inaugural Balls on the evening of the 20th. The PIC has released the preliminary schedule of inaugural events which are intended to enhance the experience for the general public. In addition, the Committee recently disclosed the official theme of the Inaugural, which will be "Renewing America’s Promise." At this time, the PIC has not released official information concerning the Inaugural Parade or Balls. I encourage you to visit their web site at http://www.pic2009.org if you have additional questions. It will keep you updated with the most recent information.

Information regarding unofficial inaugural balls and other events is available on the Washington, D.C., website at http://inauguration.dc.gov/index.asp. This site provides descriptions of each event and has them categorized by day, beginning on Friday, January 16. There are also tips for reserving hotels and an Election Exhibitions page which details some of the fun and interesting activities to do in and around D.C. for the entire inaugural weekend.

Again, thank you for your interest in the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. Please find answers below to some of the most frequently asked questions. If you need more information than what is provided below, please contact my Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-1947.

How do I pick up tickets?
You must pick up the tickets in person from my office in Washington, D.C., using a government issued photo ID. The tickets will not be mailed to you. You may pick up your tickets during the following dates and times from my office, 312 Cannon House Office Building:
January 16, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
January 19, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Any tickets not picked up by January 19, 2009 at 1 p.m. will be forfeited.

Where does the Inauguration take place, and where exactly will my tickets permit me to go?
The Inauguration will be held on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, and all of the tickets will be in a standing section and will be outdoors. Keep in mind that January in Washington, D.C., is typically cold and wet and you will be outside for several hours.

How soon can I get to the West Front of the Capitol for the Inauguration on January 20th?
On January 20, gates will open promptly at 9 a.m. There will be a musical prelude that is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., but because of the large crowds that are expected and the large security presence you should plan to arrive early. The Inauguration ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m.

What if I get Inaugural tickets but am unable to go?
If for some reason you believe you may be unable to attend the Inauguration, please inform a staffer in my office immediately. The earlier we receive notification that Inauguration tickets are no longer being requested, the quicker we can reassign the tickets to another constituent.

Are there other ways to watch the inauguration in person, and how do I attend other events, such as the parade, balls, or other special Inaugural events?
The Presidential Inaugural Committee is in charge of all additional events surrounding the Inaugural. When more information becomes available, it will be provided here.

Please note that typically, a large section of the National Mall, beyond the ticketed section, is open to the public for viewing the Inauguration. It is expected that millions of people will visit Washington, D.C., to watch the Inauguration and space in the public viewing area will be open on a first come, first served, basis. There is a chance that due to the level of interest this year an even larger section of the Mall will be open and jumbotrons will be set up to enhance viewing. If you have questions about public areas for viewing the Inauguration, please contact my Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-1947.

What if I have scheduled other tours during my visit to Washington? Will I still be able to go on these tours?
All publicly accessible museums on the National Mall will retain normal operating schedules. However, tours of the U.S. Capitol will be suspended beginning on Saturday, January 17, 2009, at 5 p.m. until the morning of Wednesday, January 20, 2009. If this conflicts with a Capitol Tour you have scheduled with my office, please call my Washington office at (202) 225-1947 to reschedule.

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2008, 11th Congressional District of California