U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) will sit side-by-side Tuesday night.
The two are among growing members of Congress planning to put aside traditional seating practices in the spirit of bipartisanship in the House chambers during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.
The decision was announced in a joint press release.
"The simple act of sitting together in a normally divided chamber will send an important signal that legislating shouldn't be about taking partisan sides," said Casey, Pennsylvania's senior senator.
“I am proud to sit with my fellow colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Bob Casey,” Toomey said.
Toomey was elected last November and took office on Jan. 3. Toomey previously served in the U.S. House for three terms from 1999 to 2005.
Casey is a first term senator who took office in 2007.
Politics
"Senator Toomey and I will sit together as public officials representing all the people of Pennsylvania. I look forward to working together and hope the bipartisan spirit will continue for all Members of Congress," Casey said.
Other members of Congress who have expressed interest in sitting with a member of the opposite party include Delaware Democratic Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, Delaware Democrat, U.S. Rep. John Carney and U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsyvlania's Fourth District.
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