A severe winter storm sweeping across the United States will not stop the US Congress from meeting on Monday to formally certify Republican Donald Trump’s election as president, House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday.
“The electoral count law requires it on January 6 at 1 p.m. — so whether we’re in a snowstorm or not, we’ll be in this room to make sure it gets done,” Johnson told Fox News . “Sunday morning term” in an interview.
Johnson said he hoped attendance would be complete despite the storm and encouraged lawmakers to stay in town.
The forecast called for heavy snow and strong winds from the Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic states, the National Weather Service said. Severe weather advisories were issued across the eastern half of the country, including blizzard warnings in parts of Kansas.
In Washington, mixed snow and sleet accumulations are expected to be between 3 and 7 inches, foreshadowing difficult travel and possible school, government and business closures.
Bad winter weather can wreak havoc on the Washington metro area, which has experienced mild winters in recent decades and is sometimes unprepared for snow or ice accumulations.
Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives returned to Washington on Friday from winter recess, and Republicans met with Johnson on Saturday to discuss legislative priorities. Republicans took control of both chambers in the November elections.
Other leaders stressed that they did not foresee a delay due to weather conditions.
“No changes to the schedule,” said Lauren Fine, communications director for Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
The certification process, which is usually just a formality, was upended four years ago when Trump supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to stop the transfer of power to Democrat Joe Biden, winner of the 2020 election.
Trump continued to falsely claim that his 2020 defeat was the result of widespread fraud. Biden and Democrats say they will honor the 2024 election results and proceed with certification.