Dear John,

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

Last week, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a full committee hearing entitled Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism. The hearing examined steps institutions of higher education are taking to address antisemitism on campus. Also, the House passed The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023, bipartisan legislation to improve and expand home and community-based services for disabled or aging Veterans. Additionally, I introduced the YouthBuild for the Future Act. This legislation equips opportunity youth – people ages 16 to 24 who are disconnected from school and work opportunities – to education, employment, and leadership skills. 

More from the week:  On Wednesday, I attended the Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence, an event sponsored by Newtown Action Alliance. I also joined members of the Connecticut Delegation for a press conference reiterating the need for gun violence prevention legislation. Lastly, the House considered H.Res.914 - Censuring Representative Jamaal Bowman. A link to my full statement on this vote is included below.   

Confronting Antisemitism

Last week, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce convened a full committee hearing entitled, Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism. The hearing examined steps higher education institutions are taking to address growing instances of antisemitism on college campuses.  

Antisemitism in America has been on the rise for at least a decade. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the number of antisemitic events in the U.S. increased by more than 35% from 2021 – 2022. These numbers have skyrocketed in the last two months.  

The Administration is taking steps to address this rampant issue. The National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism clarifies that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits certain forms of antisemitic, Islamophobic, and related forms of discrimination in federally funded programs and activities. 

As the representative for the Fifth District of Connecticut, I strongly condemn all forms of hate. All people should feel safe in their environment.  

Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023 

The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023 is comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to improve and expand home and community-based services for disabled or aging Veterans.  

Specifically, the legislation would expand existing Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) such as Veteran Directed Care, Home Maker Home Health Aides, Home Based Primary Care, and Purchased Skilled Care at every VA Medical Center in two years. This will allow many elderly veterans to stay in their homes and still receive the care they need.  

I am committed to ensuring our service members and their families have access to the critical services and resources they need and deserve. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this legislation and happy to have joined my colleagues in passing it out of the House last week on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. 

YouthBuild for the Future Act

On Tuesday, I introduced the YouthBuild for the Future Act, legislation to reauthorize the YouthBuild program, a national program that equips opportunity youth – people ages 16 to 24 who are disconnected from school and work opportunities – to education, employment, and leadership skills. The legislation is led by Sen. Ed Markey (MA) in the Senate.  

Each year, YouthBuild helps thousands of youth earn their high school diploma while learning skills in trades like construction, healthcare, information technology, and logistics,  YouthBuild services more than 5,000 opportunity youth in more than 40 states, including Connecticut. My legislation improves and invests in the job training program to allow more disadvantaged, rural, and low-income youth in the Fifth District to confidently join the workforce and have successful futures. 

Additional information on the YouthBuild for the Future Act is available here.  

Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence

Each year since 2013, the Newtown Action Alliance Foundation and gun violence prevention partners sponsor the National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence.  I attended the vigil last week, one week ahead of the 11-year mark of the Sandy Hook shooting tragedy.

Additionally, Members of the Connecticut Delegation joined families impacted by gun violence to reiterate the importance of passing gun safety legislation, including an assault weapons ban, safe storage laws, and universal background checks, which more than 90% of Americans support.  

Nothing about the gun violence epidemic in this country is normal. An average of 327 people are killed every day. Dying by a military-style assault weapon in a bowling alley, a grocery store, a place of worship, or an elementary school is simply not normal.  

I pray and mourn with all who have lost a loved one to gun violence, I and am committed to honor their loss with action.  

Statement on the Vote to Censure Rep. Bowman 

On Thursday, the House considered H.Res.914- Censuring Representative Jamaal Bowman. As an educator, I spent decades telling young people not to pull an alarm unless there was an emergency and stressing the seriousness of a false alarm. I released the following statement following my YEA vote on the resolution: Hayes Statement on Vote to Censure Representative Bowman

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