Congressman representing Lehigh Valley, Poconos announces educator as his guest for President’s State of the Union address | Carbon County Area

WASHINGTON – Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, who represents the Lehigh Valley and parts of the Poconos, said a Head Start educator will be his guest to President Trump’s State of the Union address.

Mackenzie said he will bring Sarah Arndt, a Head Start educator in Lehighton, Carbon County, to the president’s address, which is set to take place at the U.S. Capitol at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Sarah Arndt is a Lead Teacher at PathStone Carbon County Head Start, where she has worked for the past 13 years supporting young learners and their families, according to a news release from Mackenzie’s office.

He said they met late last year when he visited her pre-school during the government shutdown.

Mackenzie said she is dedicated to supporting children’s academic, social, and emotional development and building strong partnerships with families.

“One thing that we wanted to focus on by inviting Sarah Arndt was to highlight the importance of early childhood education,” said Rep. Mackenzie. “Highlight the importance of federally funded government programs like head start, and keeping those things open during government shutdowns.”

A government shutdown Rep. Mackenzie said almost forced Arndt’s pre-school to close last year.

“We met her while we were out visiting local area head start locations during the shutdown at the end of last year. There was a potential that her location was going to be closed,” said Rep. Mackenzie.

Rep. Mackenzie said he tried to end that shutdown, becoming one of only four Republican congressmen to sign on to a Democratic discharge petition, attempting to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies in order to fund the government. The effort was not ultimately successful, but Mackenzie said the point was made.

“I voted to keep the government open both in the fall of last year and also again this time, and I think it’s very irresponsible of folks to try to push their policy agenda into these discussions around funding the government,” said Rep. Mackenzie.

Rep. Mackenzie said he’s hoping to hear the President talk about getting out of the current partial government shutdown, and where the country is headed in 2026.

“The key things that we’re going to look for are not only to hear what has happened over the past year, the positive things that the President has been able to achieve, but also we want to see what we’re going to be doing going forward,” said Rep. Mackenzie.

Rep. Mackenzie told us he would support certain restrictions on ICE agents if it would help reopen the government during the current debate over DHS funding.