Speaker to Obama: Jan. 28 for State of the Union Mark your calendars: House Speaker John Boehner has invited President Obama to deliver the State of the Union address on Jan. 28. Boehner sent a letter to Obama on Friday with the invitation. The Republican said Americans expect Washington to focus on their priorities and find common ground. Boehner said that Congress wants to hear the president's ideas, particularly on putting Americans back to work. Obama would speak at 9 p.m. EDT from the House chamber in an address to Congress and the nation. By tradition, the president gets invited to this appearance by the speaker of the House.