House GOP leaders will play smaller part in ‘March for Life’

{mosads}Boehner spokesman Michael Steel noted that the House will not be in session on the day of the march — Friday, Jan. 25.

“[Boehner] addressed the march last year — the first time a Speaker of the House has done so, I believe,” Steel said in an email. “This year, the House will not be in session, but he has recorded a message to the marchers.”

A Cantor spokeswoman said her boss has participated in the march every year since he was elected in 2001, and that he was “honored” to speak to last year’s crowd.  

“This year, unfortunately, since the House is not in session, [Cantor] will not be in Washington,”  Megan Whittemore said.

The march is one of Washington’s largest annual protests, drawing as many as 250,000 people to the National Mall. Strong attendance is expected this year, given the Roe anniversary.

Organizers announced Tuesday that former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum will address a pre-march rally at 7th St. and Constitution Ave. NW.

Reps. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Diane Black (R-Tenn.) will also speak, while Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski (Ill.) will address the crowd in a video.

Jeanne Monahan, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, said in a statement that many other lawmakers “will be in attendance, but not speaking.”

—This post was last updated at 3:28 p.m.