U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., and U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-2nd District, will sit together during President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday.

The joint action recently was announced by both North Carolina lawmakers in efforts to further push bipartisanship in a Republican-led Congress. Democrats and Republicans have sat in partisan blocs in past State of the Union functions.

"Sitting together at the State of the Union is an important symbol of bipartisanship among the North Carolina delegation," said Hagan, who recently signed a letter pushing for bipartisan seating. "It’s time for Democrats and Republicans to put aside partisan differences and work together to make progress on the pressing issues facing our country

Ellmers said she considers the joint seating as one of the notible "firsts" in the new session of Congress.

"As a citizen legislator I hope this continues and we can come together to agree on solutions to get the people of our state and country back to work,” Ellmers said.