House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has sent an official invitation to the White House for President Obama to deliver the annual State of the Union Address. The date is set for Jan. 25, a Tuesday. Boehner's letter makes reference to the Tucson shooting rampage, saying the government exists to serve the people and, "Even in the wake of tragedy, we must never waiver from our obligation to carry out their will and provide solutions to keep moving our nation forward."

The letter follows:

January 11, 2011

The Honorable Barack Obama

The President of the United States

The White House

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

A new Congress provides us a renewed opportunity to find common ground and address the priorities of the American people. Our actions must be driven by their desire for freedom, economic recovery and fiscal sensibility, as well as a need to rebuild the broken bonds of trust between the people and their government.

Recent events have reminded us of the imperfect nature of our representative democracy, but also how much we cherish the ideal that our government exists to serve the people. Even in the wake of tragedy, we must never waiver from our obligation to carry out their will and provide solutions to keep moving our nation forward.

As many great challenges lie ahead for our nation, we welcome an opportunity to hear your proposals. Therefore, I am honored to invite you to offer an address on the State of the Union on January 25, 2011, before a Joint Session of Congress.

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to your response.

John A. Boehner

Speaker of the House