"President Obama will present our nation's agenda for creating jobs and a plan for us to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world," Larson said in a press release announcing his guest. "Strengthening our economy and bolstering competitiveness are goals, both myself and Gov. Malloy, believe are needed to secure our state's prosperity. We face challenges nationally and at home, however with common ground with our President and a strong partnership with our Governor, I am confident that we will succeed now and win in the future."
Tradition dictates that members of Congress bring a special guest or distinguished constituent to Washington to hear the president's annual address.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, attending his first SOTU address as a sitting senator, will bring his oldest son, Matthew, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy has invited John Yrchik, who lives in Murphy's hometown of Cheshire. Yrchik is executive director of the Connecticut Education Association, which represents 41,000 educators in the state.
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney is bringing Robin Chesmer, a dairy farmer and one of the founders of the Farmers Cow collective.
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro's spokeswoman, Kaelan Richards, said she had no information on who - if anyone - the 3rd District congresswoman was taking to the speech. U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman also did not provide information about the senator's guest. And the office of U.S. Rep. Jim Himes did not respond to an email seeking comment.
The congressional invitees aren't the only Connecticut residents attending tomorrow's speech: Ursula M. Burns of Norwalk, the CEO of Xerox Corp., is sitting in First Michelle Obama's box.
According to the White House, Burns is helping to lead the administration's campaign to improve science, technology, engineering and math education. She also serves on the board of Change the Equation, a coalition of CEOs focused on science and math education. And she was appointed vice chair of the President's Export Council last March.