President Trump is set to deliver his State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday evening, serving as an opportunity for the President to make the case for his agenda in the coming year.
U.S. Senators and Representatives often do the same, bringing a guest who they believe highlights an important issue or concern.
Some Pennsylvania Democrats, for example, are bringing guests who represent labor interests.
Sen. Bob Casey announced over the weekend that he will bring Monica Hughes, a TSA Officer who worked without pay during the partial government shutdown.
“I am hopeful that her attendance will inspire others in Washington to remain committed to fighting for working families who depend on a functioning government,” Casey said in a statement.
Representative Conor Lamb will bring Darrin Kelly, president of the Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
But not every guest will make a direct political statement. Republican Pat Toomey will bring John Malloy, a businessman and personal friend from the Lehigh Valley.
Rep. Mike Kelly will attend with Joe Pfadt, a veteran and high school civics teacher. Pfadt also serves as President of Warriors to Washington, a nonprofit which brings veterans on trips to Washington, D.C.
Freshman Republican Guy Reschenthaler will bring his parents, Janice and Guy Reschenthaler.
Democrat Mike Doyle will go alone.
While the specific content of his speech is still unknown, the President’s guest list includes two men from Pittsburgh with connections to the attack at Squirrel Hill's Tree of Life synagogue in October.
Timothy Matson, on the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police SWAT team responded to the attack and suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Judah Samet, a member of the synagogue, will also attend. Samet is Holocaust survivor.
