Two Virginia legislators from opposite parties — Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Rep. Frank Wolf — plan to sit together for President Obama's 2014 State of the Union address.
Their Capitol Hill offices released a joint statement: "Fellow Virginians, Kaine and Wolf have worked closely together over the past year on issues of religious freedom around the world and look forward to the opportunity to carry on this bipartisan tradition."
Kaine tweeted about their plans: "Looking fwd to sitting w/ my friend @RepWOLFPress during the State of the Union tmrw night #SOTU"
The president's annual State of the Union address is delivered in the larger House chamber, with Democrats and Republicans traditionally sitting on opposite sides of the aisle that divides the room down the center.
In addition, Kaine announced that his guest for the speech will be Army Staff Sergeant Tammy Brown — a machinist and welder with tactical knowledge and experience in metal fabrication who has served on active duty for more than 15 years, including tours in Kosovo and Iraq, is now stationed at Fort Lee, Va.
Earlier this year, Kaine visited Fort Lee around the introduction of his first bill, the Troop Talent Act of 2013, legislation designed to help active duty military membes transition to the civilian workforce by providing them information about acquiring credentials, like those Staff Sgt. Brown has earned.
“Over Staff Sergeant Brown’s many years of service to our country, she has gained vital skills that will be highly valuable to employers in the private sector,” said Kaine. “Unfortunately, many employers don’t understand how specialty skills obtained in the military translate to the civilian world, which has contributed in the past to a high unemployment rate among veterans."
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