Planning is underway for the Inauguration of U.S. Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States at noon on January 20, 2009.

Weather permitting, the ceremony will take place on the West front of the U.S. Capitol. In early January, Members of Congress will receive a limited number of tickets to view the ceremony from the U.S. Capitol Grounds and a portion of the National Mall. No website or other ticket outlet actually has inaugural swearing-in tickets to sell, regardless of what they may claim. At this time, the number of ticket requests my office has received far outnumbers the allotment of tickets and, as a result, we are no longer accepting ticket requests.

The remainder of the National Mall will be open to the public to attend without tickets. Large screen televisions will be made available so that as many people will be able to see and hear the Inauguration ceremony as possible. Following the Ceremony, the procession of the President and the inaugural parade along Pennsylvania Avenue is also open to the public.

In the event of inclement weather, the Inauguration ceremony will take place in the Capitol Rotunda, where only immediate family, the media, Members of Congress, and the U.S. Supreme Court will be permitted to attend.

For more information on the Inauguration ceremony, please visit the website of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies at www.inaugural.senate.gov .

The Presidential Inaugural Committee is responsible for the Inauguration Day parade, Inaugural balls, and galas. For more information on how to participate in these events, please visit their website at www.pic2009.org. Thank you for your interest in attending the Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office with any questions or concerns that you have.

To see a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Inauguration, click here .