Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) will attend the annual anti-abortion March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 19.
The rally and march in D.C. from the National Mall to the Supreme Court draws thousands of people from around the country and is the largest annual protest in the nation's capital. An estimated 100,000 are expected to attend this year, in addition to local marches and gatherings across the U.S.
Last year, Vice President Mike Pence addressed the crowd, marking the first time a sitting vice president attended the march.
March for Life president Jeanne Mancini was grateful for the announcement that Ryan would be attending.
"It is an honor to have Speaker of the House Paul Ryan address the 45th annual March for Life," Mancini said. "Speaker Ryan has been an unwavering champion for the pro-life cause since taking office, and continues to utilize his post to promote the inherent dignity of the human person at all stages of life.""We are grateful for the significant strides U.S. Congress made in the last year to protect and defend the most innocent among us, and are confident that 2018 will see even more pro-life progress with Speaker Ryan leading the charge," Mancini added.
Other lawmakers who are set to speak at this year's march include Reps. Chris Smith (R., N.J.), Dan Lipinski (D., Ill.), and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R., Wash.).
Heritage Foundation president Kay Cole James, Sister Bethany Madonna of the Sisters of Life, and Tim Tebow's mother, Pam Tebow, will also speak this year.