Dear John,

Welcome to your Weekly Wrap, a recap of the week in Congress and highlights of my work.

As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture, I am gravely concerned the subcommittee has yet to hold a hearing or a single meeting in the 118th Congress. Therefore, last week, I sent a letter to Chairman Finstad urgently requesting he convene a hearing on the Nutrition Title (Title IV) of the 2023 Farm Bill. 

More from the week: On Tuesday, the House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held a hearing, A review of the USDA Animal Disease Prevention and Response Efforts. I discussed the ways Connecticut is helping to meet the growing need for public-sector animal health professionals and veterinarians. The Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education also hosted its first hearing of the 118th Congress, School Choice: Expanding Educational Freedom for All. On Thursday, I joined my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus in voting no to H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, discriminatory legislation which targets trans girls. Lastly, I hosted a CT05 Passport Day, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State (DOS).

For the full recap, please read below. 

Preparing for the 2023 Farm Bill 

The Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture has jurisdiction over nutrition policies and statutes, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and issues related to horticulture, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and ornamentals. The subcommittee is also tasked with helping to draft the 2023 Farm Bill.  

As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture, I am gravely concerned the subcommittee has yet to hold a hearing or a single meeting in the 118th Congress. Nutrition provisions make up 76% of the $1.4 trillion dollar Farm Bill making the delays in committee work even more alarming.

On Tuesday, I sent a letter to the Chairman urgently requesting he convene a hearing on the Nutrition Title (Title IV) of the upcoming Farm Bill and to provide updates on the work of this vital committee. Moreover, I reiterated the need for bipartisanship to ensure detrimental provisions, including constraining work requirements, are not included in the legislation.

A copy of the full letter is available here.

A Review of USDA Animal Disease Prevention and Response Efforts

Last week, the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held a hearing, A review of the USDA Animal Disease Prevention and Response Efforts.

During the hearing, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt and Associate Deputy Administrator Alecia Naugle provided testimony on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS protects the health of U.S. agriculture and natural resources against invasive pests and diseases, regulates genetically engineered crops, administers the Animal Welfare Act, and helps wildlife coexist.

The services provided by APHIS are crucial for farms across the nation, particularly in CT-05, where 94% of farms are family farms and 92% have less than $100,000 in value. Many of these producers rely on fewer than two dozen dairy cows for their livelihood, and any disease could do irreparable damage to their way of life.

I was pleased to hear how the Department is working to partner with states to disseminate information on preventing potentially devastating animal diseases.

Additionally, I had an opportunity to discuss how Connecticut is helping to meet the growing need for public sector animal health professionals and veterinarians – specifically through programs like the Shepaug Agriscience Academy at Shepaug Valley School in Washington, CT. The hearing is available here.

I’m grateful for the continued partnership of the Department and Under Secretary Moffit. Last year, I toured Connecticut Foodshare with the Under Secretary to announce Connecticut would be the second state in the nation to sign a Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA). This agreement resulted in $2.64 million in federal funding directed to fight food insecurity, fortify our local food supply chain, and support farmers.

Protecting Public Education 

On Tuesday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education convened its first hearing of the 118th Congress, School Choice: Expanding Educational Freedom for All.

I used my time to reiterate my support for parents having the right to send their children to the schools that best fit their needs but emphasized that this should not be at the expense of public schools or as a way to avoid vital civil rights protections such as the ones provided by the Individuals With Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). I believe we must work to improve all public schools through sustained investment. 90% of students in America attend public schools. It is imperative we prepare these students for success.

To listen to the hearing, please click here.

Politics Over Participation

On Thursday, the House Republican majority passed H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.  This legislation would prohibit transgender women and girls from participating in female sports teams at school. Further, this dangerous and discriminatory legislation would leave many women and girls susceptible to invasive medical exams.

Approximately 1.6 million people ages 13 and older – 0.6% of the population identify as transgender in the United States. This includes 1.4% of youth ages 13-17 (about 300,000). 

According to recent reports, transgender students are three times more likely to miss school than other students and are more likely to report feeling unsafe at school and being bullied. Additionally, many transgender students experience multiple forms of discrimination at once, including race, gender, or disability discrimination, which can amplify the challenges they face.

No less concerning, according to the Trevor Project, 14% of LGBTQ youth attempted suicide in the past year, including 12% of transgender girls and women and nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth.

H.R. 734 compounds the hardship trans youth are already experiencing. Further, it ostracizes them by denying them the positive social and physical benefits of participating in school-based sports teams.

I joined my House Democratic colleagues in voting no to this legislation.

CT-05 Passport Day 

On Saturday, I hosted a Passport Day in partnership with the U.S. Department of State (DOS) at my Waterbury office.

The event was attended by more than 100 individuals looking to apply for the first time or renew a passport. This event builds on my work to help streamline the process of navigating federal agencies.

Since taking office, my casework team has provided more than 440 constituents with passport assistance. Currently, it is estimated that processing times can reach up to 13 weeks. If you have a passport expiring in the next 6 months you are encouraged to reapply now. If you need help with a passport or have a question about an issue with a federal agency, please call my office at 860-223-8412.

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. As always, please continue to share your thoughts and priorities with me.

Jahana Hayes

Member of Congress