Dear John,

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

Last week, I co-led the re-introduction of the Closing the Meal Gap Act, legislation to combat hunger by expanding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  Additionally, I met with the Salisbury Housing Trust, a non-profit organization committed to expanding affordable housing.

More from the week: On Thursday, I attended the grand opening of Kensington Gardens, a new Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) facility, which will expand care for 35 families and toured Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a leading medical technology company in Canaan. I was also thrilled to view the 2023 Congressional Art Competition gallery at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury.

Finally, I welcomed 20 new Americans from 19 different countries at a naturalization ceremony.  

For the full recap, please read below.

Closing the Meal Gap Act 

More than 40 million Americans depend on SNAP for food assistance. This program is one of the most effective tools to lift families out of poverty and boost the economy.

With more than 490,000 Connecticut residents struggling with hunger, now is the time to fortify this life-sustaining program – not make detrimental cuts. Instead, we can take meaningful steps towards ending hunger by remaining steadfast in protecting and expanding SNAP.

 On Wednesday, I co-led the re-introduction of the Closing the Meal Gap Act with Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Barbara Lee (CA-12), and Summer Lee (PA-12). 

This legislation increases the baseline benefit for all SNAP households, eliminates eligibility limits for seniors and disabled individuals, and expands benefits for individuals residing and working in Puerto Rico. 

Salisbury Housing Trust

The Salisbury Housing Trust is a non-profit organization committed to making home-ownership a reality for all Salisbury Township workers, residents, and volunteers.

I visited to hear their plans to build three affordable homes to be sold to households earning at or below 80% of the area median income. The group envisions the homes to be energy efficient – supporting environmental sustainability goals and cutting costs for the homeowners.

During the visit, I met with the Housing Trust Director, and representatives from the town and had the opportunity to view the site for the proposed project and see recently completed homes.

Grand Opening of Kensington Gardens

On Thursday, I joined Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) for the ribbon cutting of Kensington Gardens, the new home of two CMHA residential programs.

Headquartered in New Britain, CMHA has 10 locations across northwestern and central Connecticut and serves over 7,300 children, adolescents, and adults through a continuum of integrated health and behavioral health care programs.

The new facility will help CMHA care for 35 individuals experiencing chronic mental and medical health issues. 

This Mental Health Awareness Month, I applaud the work of Community Mental Health Affiliates to ensure Connecticut residents have access to the care they need.

Becton, Dickinson, and Company

On Tuesday, I visited Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) in Canaan. 

Founded in 1897, BD is a leading manufacturer of medical devices, needles & syringes, medical tests and at-home kits. The company is credited with creating the first insulin injection device in 1924. Today, BD has four business units, including Diabetes Care, Medication Delivery Solutions, Medication Management Solutions, and Pharmaceutical Systems.

At the Canaan location, BD employs nearly 450 people and produces more than 2 billion medical devices each year that are sold in every region of the world.

Becton, Dickinson, and Company is one of the many companies helping to expand the manufacturing workforce in Connecticut. 

Congressional Art Competition Exhibit

It’s official!

The 2023 Congressional Art Competition exhibit is up at the  Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury. 

This year we received over 200 submissions from 23 schools across the Fifth District. The exhibition is such an incredible display of talent from the students of CT-05.   

The artwork can be viewed at the Mattatuck Museum through May 30, 2023. Community members are welcome to visit the exhibition.

Celebrating New Americans

On Friday, I attended a naturalization ceremony. 

During the ceremony, candidates completed the final step in the process and officially became American citizens.

I was happy to be among the first to welcome people from 19  countries as new American citizens. 

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