Two freshman lawmakers are engaged to be married though not to each other

As members of the freshman class settle into their daily duties, two lawmakers stand out because, in addition to everything else, they both are planning weddings.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), 36, is engaged to NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, who has flown two shuttle missions. Kelly, 42, was the pilot for a space mission in 2006. The first shuttle launch for that mission to the International Space Station was July 4, 2006. Giffords chose U2’s “Beautiful Day” as one of the wake-up calls for the crew on the 12-day mission.

The couple met in China three years ago when both were fellows chosen by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Kelly proposed to Giffords at his alma mater, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. He is a Desert Storm veteran and Navy fighter pilot.

Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), 34, is also engaged to be married. His bride-to-be is Cathy Holahan.