Kean Announces Sarah (Levinson) Moriarty as Guest for President’s Address to Congress

(March 4, 2025) WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that Sarah (Levinson) Moriarty, a Chester resident, will be his guest at President Trump's 2025 Address to Congress. Each member of Congress is allowed one guest. Sarah will be seated in the House Gallery during the speech.

Sarah is the daughter of Robert (Bob) Levinson, the longest-held hostage in American history, who was taken captive in Iran on March 9, 2007, and was presumed to have died in captivity as informed by U.S. officials in March 2020. Sarah's advocacy was instrumental in the creation of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-taking Accountability Act, a groundbreaking legislation signed into law by President Trump as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, that provides the US government with critical tools and resources to bring American nationals home from captivity by state and non-state actors, support families, and deter for the future. Learn more about the impact of the Levinson ActHERE.

Sarah was also a key advocate for legislation annually designating March 9th as National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, and the establishment of an official Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag. Both were included in the FY24 NDAA and signed into law. This flag now flies above the White House, State Department, and Capitol on March 9th as well as Flag Day, Independence Day, and any day when an American held hostage overseas returns home to the United States.

Sarah is a non-resident fellow with New America's Future Security Program. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation and now sits on its Advisory Board, as well as the Advisory Council for Hostage US. She resides in Morris County with her husband and two children.

"It is a great honor to have Sarah (Levinson) Moriarty join me inside the House Chamber as my guest to President Trump's Joint Address to Congress tonight," said Congressman Kean. "Sarah has devoted her life to being a tireless advocate for the families of American hostages and those wrongfully detained overseas. Her work has led to significant legislative achievements, including the establishment of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act, the U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day and the creation of an official flag to raise awareness. She represents the very best of America and New Jersey, I am thankful she will join this special event."

"I want to thank Congressman Kean for inviting me as his guest to the Address to Congress," said Sarah (Levinson) Moriarty. "I am deeply grateful for his, President Trump's, and all of this administration's unwavering leadership in highlighting the plight of American hostages. My father, Robert "Bob" Levinson, has held the horrible distinction of being the longest-held hostage in U.S. history. My family has experienced firsthand the pain and uncertainty that too many hostage families continue to endure. Congressman Kean's unrelenting commitment to this issue serves as a powerful reminder that bringing our fellow Americans home from captivity must remain a national priority, and we must work together now to deter this from happening in the future. I will continue to work with Congressman Kean and other leaders to ensure that no American is ever left behind, and that we find tangible ways to stop this brutal and barbaric practice."

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