STATE OF THE UNION INVITATION LIST

President Joe Biden was scheduled deliver his annual State of the Union address Tuesday night in front of both houses of Congress, including Connecticut’s two senators and five representatives.

As is traditional, Blumenthal many Congresspeople were expected to be accompanied by guests from their home state. Here is who Connecticut’s representatives chose to invite.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal: Alex Plitsas, former Pentagon official, Fairfield GOP vice chair

Blumenthal reached across the aisle to invite Alex Plitsas, a veteran, ex-Pentagon official and former Fairfield GOP vice chairman.

Plitsas made headlines in 2021 for coordinating evacuations from Afghanistan during the U.S. military’s withdrawal. More recently, he visited Ukraine as part of a fellowship with a foreign policy think tank, witnessing what he described as “devastation” and a “callous disregard for human life.”

“I want my colleagues to hear from Alex about what he’s been doing to enable our at-risk Afghan allies to escape persecution, torture, death in Afghanistan,” Blumenthal said at a news conference.

Both Blumenthal and Plitsas said they hope to call attention to the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide permanent legal status to American allies who were evacuated out of Afghanistan.

Sen. Chris Murphy: Justin Elicker, New Haven mayor

Murphy chose a fellow elected official, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.

Murphy supported Elicker in his bid for mayor in 2019 and has since worked with him on issues including gun reform.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro: Allyx Schiavone, Friends Center for Children

DeLauro choose as her guest Allyx Schiavone, executive director of an early childhood care and education program in New Haven.

A spokesperson said DeLauro is teaming with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., “to spotlight the child care crisis and the need for greater federal investments and policy reforms ahead of the State of the Union.”

Rep. Jim Himes: Marc Jaffe, CEO of Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County

Himes invited Marc Jaffe, CEO of a preschool and early childhood program based in Stamford.

In a statement, Himes said he wants to highlight gaps in early childhood education, arguing that increased access to early schooling is “not only a moral obligation, it is good fiscal practice.”

“In the past two years I have heard from countless Americans who need more financial, academic, and emotional support for their children,” he said. “The government can do so much more to support our nation’s families, and I am enormously grateful for leaders like Marc Jaffe who have taken on much of that burden.”

Rep. Joe Courtney: Joe de la Cruz, former state representative

Courtney has invited Joe de la Cruz, a former state representative who works at Hillery Co., a metal fabricator and submarine supplier in Groton, and co-founded Community Speaks Out, a nonprofit that helps people with opioid addiction.

In a statement, de la Cruz said he was “truly honored” to have been invited to attend the address.

“The State of the Union not only refers to the present, but also lays out the path for our future,” he said. “The President has proven his commitment to solving many issues in our country, and I look forward to hearing his plans for 2023.”

Courtney, meanwhile, applauded de la Cruz for his work.

“Eastern Connecticut is at the tip of the spear when it comes to America’s manufacturing resurgence, and people like Joe de la Cruz are a big part of the reason why,” he said.

Rep. Jahana Hayes: Niko, student journalist at Western Connecticut State University

Hayes invited a Western Connecticut State student journalist named Niko.

According to Hayes’ office, which declined to share Niko’s last name, the student initially reached out seeking media credentials to attend the State of the Union. When that wasn’t possible, Hayes chose to invite him as her guest.

“You can become civically engaged at any age,” Hayes said in a statement. “I look forward to sharing this experience with Niko and hope young people throughout the Fifth [District] are inspired to get involved in their communities.”

Niko, a political science major who contributes to both the student-run radio station and student newspaper at Western Connecticut, said in a statement he was “incredibly honored and excited to attend an event so crucial to our democracy.”

(As of Monday evening, Rep. John Larson had not announced who would accompany him to the State of the Union address, and a spokesperson for his office did not respond to requests for comment.)