WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) announced today that they will be sitting next to one another during tomorrow’s State of the Union address.  Senator Collins is the senior Senator from Maine while Senator King is the junior Senator from Maine.

“Our country continues to face great challenges and we must work together in a bipartisan manner to find solutions.  Americans want us to come together and reach agreements in an atmosphere of mutual respect and good faith,” said Senator Collins.  “I am not only delighted to sit with Angus during the President’s State of the Union address, but I look forward to continuing to work closely with him on behalf of all Mainers.  This spirit of cooperation and willingness to work together is sorely needed in Washington, and it will help make the state of our union even stronger.”

“I could not be more pleased to sit next to Susan, my good friend and colleague from Maine, during my first State of the Union address,” said Senator King. “Since entering office in January, she has been an outstanding mentor and ally, offering me sound advice and valuable assistance. Most importantly, though, she understands, as I do, that we must set aside partisan politics to achieve what is best for Maine and the nation. I hope all our colleagues in Congress will pursue a similar collaborative course of bipartisanship as we begin our legislative session in 2013.”

###