July 23, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) today kicked off a six-week cross-country bus tour aboard “Freedom One,” a 45-foot motor coach, in support of the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

 “The country needs Speaker Paul Ryan and a conservative majority in the People’s House,” Speaker Boehner said, praising the detailed policy agenda put forth by House Republicans last month.  “We earned the majority in the House together in 2010, and it’s important for the nation that Republicans keep it.”

During the bus tour, the former Speaker will campaign on behalf of more than 20 House Republican Members, including Reps. Chris Collins (R-NY), David Joyce (R-OH), Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Dave Trott (R-MI).  States the former Speaker will visit during the tour include Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

 The Boehner bus tour, modeled after the bus trips that became an annual August ritual for him during his days as House Republican Leader and later Speaker, begins July 23 in New Jersey and will travel as far west as Washington State, concluding shortly before Labor Day. 

 Freedom One’s itinerary includes events organized in coordination with the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).  The tour is being financed by the Freedom Project, Boehner’s still-active political action committee (PAC).  The former speaker and his team will use social media to provide updates from the road as Freedom One makes its way across the country.

 Boehner, who supports the GOP presidential ticket, is focusing his efforts this summer on the House majority, as he did in previous cycles during his days in the House leadership.

 “Speaker Boehner may no longer be in office, but he still feels strongly about defending the majority that was earned during his time in office,” said Boehner spokesman Dave Schnittger. “It will always be his priority.”

“The August bus tours got into Boehner’s bloodstream during his years in the House,” Schnittger said.  “He enjoyed getting out beyond the Beltway, visiting colleagues’ districts, and talking to people around the country.  That still holds true for him now, as a former speaker, and he wants to continue to contribute to the cause.”

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