On Tuesday, President Donald Trump will address the nation in the State of the Union address — this year following the record government shutdown and a pitched partisan battle between the president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Each member of Congress is allowed a guest, and very often those guests underscore the issues of the day — from immigration to the government shutdown. We reached out to the Illinois congressional delegation to find out who will be with them as the president holds forth. Here's what we know so far:
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, will be accompanied by Lily Wu, a Chicago resident and first generation American — her parents emigrated from China according to the senator's staff. Wu is currently an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers apprentice, "trying to break into a male dominated field and live the American Dream."
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, will take air traffic controller Toby Hauck as a way to highlight the effects of the recent government shutdown.
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, a Downers Grove Democrat representing the 6th District, who like Garcia is a freshman lawmaker has asked Judie Caribeaux, executive director of Family Shelter Services, to attend the State of the Union address. A Naperville resident, she has spoken openly about how the recent government shutdown hurt domestic abuse victims who depend on Family Shelter Service, which receives federal aid, according to Casten's office. Read the full story in our sister paper the Naperville Sun here.
U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, a Chicago Democrat representing the 4th Congressional District and a freshman lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives, will be accompanied by his spouse, Evelyn.
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, a Naperville Democrat representing the 11th District, asked Marilyn Weisner, the executive director of the suburban Aurora Food Pantry, to be his guest. In addition to her own work, Weisner was married to former Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, who died in December after a long cancer battle.
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, the Channahon Republican representing the 16th District, will bring Officer Mark Dallas, the School Resource Officer at Dixon High School who intervened last May when a former student showed up with a gun near the school gym where students were gathered for a graduation rehearsal. Dallas shot and injured the gunman after the suspect fired at the officer while trying to flee. The president has previously lauded Dallas.
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Schaumburg Democrat representing the 8th District, has invited Joe Podlasek, a local advocate for the Native American community with a focus on veterans, will be the congressman's guest. A citizen of the LCO Ojibwe Tribe in northern Wisconsin and of Polish descent, he operates the Trickster Art Gallery of native art in Schaumburg.
U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski will be accompanied by Chicago police Officer Gino Garcia, a constituent whose mother — also a Chicago police officer — died at the hands of an abusive boyfriend. The Tribune reported on the tragic 2000 killing. Read here. Gino Garcia is now an advocate for domestic violence victims.
U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, the Democrat representing the 14th District, has invited 7-year-old Naperville resident Allie Bland after the congresswoman — also from Naperville — learned the girl had left domestic violence survivors and their families handwritten notes and drawings of support at a DuPage County shelter. Read the story in our sister paper, the Naperville Sun, here. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Chicago Democrat representing the 6th District, has invited Chante Copeland-Smith, an Individual Tax Advisory Specialist who works in one of the IRS's Taxpayer Assistance Centers, which were closed during the partial government shutdown. Quigley, chair of the Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee, pushed legislation to reopen the IRS and other key agencies to aid taxpayers.
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, a Deerfield Democrat representing the 10th District invited Ivan Hernandez, 26, of Waukegan, to be the congressman's guest. Hernandez came to the United States from Mexico at age 12 and under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, he eventually gained a work permit, graduated from College of Lake County and Columbia College and is now employed at a Waukegan bank.
U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, a 1st District Democrat from Chicago, says he won't bring a guest because he can't find anyone who wants to attend. He'll wear white "to acknowledge the historic 106 women serving in the House of Representatives and to stand in solidarity with women across the country," said spokesman Ryan Johnson.
