Washington, D.C. [01/31/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said that Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan will be her guest at the President’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 5 in Washington, D.C. Prior to serving in the United States Senate, Sen. Smith also served as Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota.
Lt. Gov. Flanagan, a member of the White Earth band of Ojibwe, is currently the nation’s highest-ranking Native woman ever elected to executive office. She was one of the first Minnesotans Sen. Smith reached out to during the start of the recent 35-day government shutdown. The two have discussed how harmful the shutdown was on communities and tribes across the state, and the need to meaningfully negotiate to keep the government up and running.
“I am honored that Lieutenant Governor Flanagan has agreed to be my guest at the President’s State of the Union Address. But more than that, I’m grateful to Peggy for her commitment to work for people across the state in the spirit of ‘One Minnesota’,” said Sen. Smith. “Peggy leads with compassion, determination, and I know she not only inspires me—she is a source of inspiration for Americans across the United States.”
“I want to thank Senator Smith for inviting me to the State of the Union and for standing up for Minnesotans in Washington,” said Flanagan. “As the highest-ranking Native woman elected to executive office, I look forward to shedding light on the issues facing our Native communities, because everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and valued.”
The President’s State of the Union Address will be held in the U.S. House Chamber on Tuesday, February 5.
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