Two members of Rhode Island's General Assembly are getting an up-close view of history in the making today.

State Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed and state Sen. Juan M. Pichardo are among those in the audience for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's choice for the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Assembly members were invited to attend the Washington D.C. hearing by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, according to state Senate spokesman Greg Pare, who said the event held special significance for the Rhode Island Democratic lawmakers.

If confirmed, Sotomayor would be the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice, and the third woman to serve on the court.

Pichardo is Rhode Island's first Hispanic state senator, according to Pare, and Paiva Weed its first female Senate president.

"It's a big deal for them," Pare said.

No state dollars were used to pay for the one-day trip, according to Pare.

He confirmed that Paiva Weed used money from her campaign account, while Pichardo likely did the same, adding that he was working to confirm Pichardo's funding source.