Dear John,

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

Last week, I participated in a telephone town hall with over 1,000 members of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Connecticut. Additionally, I joined Rep. John Larson in Torrington for a conversation about the Social Security 2100 Act. Our conversations made clear older Americans are not only concerned about Social Security and health care, but also issues of affordable housing and broadband. Supporting our seniors means addressing all of these issues.

More from the week: I joined Rep. Rosa DeLauro for a press conference highlighting our legislation, the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act. Also, as we close out Women’s History Month, I participated in a Women’s Empowerment Panel hosted by Early College High School (ECHS) at Crosby High School in Waterbury. Lastly, I attended Senator Chris Murphy’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast in Cheshire. I am also including a Casework Highlight.

For my full recap, please read below.

Supporting Seniors

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. On Wednesday, I participated in a Telephone town Hall with over 1,000 members of AARP Connecticut. We had a great discussion on protecting Social Security and Medicare, lowering the cost of prescription medication, and my work for seniors in the Fifth District of Connecticut.

Our conversation made clear that while older Americans are concerned about Social Security and health care, critical issues among this community also include affordable housing and broadband.

Recently, the Administration announced new funding to support housing for low-income seniors. In February, HUD announced the availability of $115 million in grant funding to support the development and preservation of supportive housing for an estimated 1,100 units for low-income seniors through the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program.

Similarly, I recently secured $300,000 in Community Project Funding (CPF) for Affordable Housing Infrastructure in Morris. The funding would provide the water, septic, and storm water management infrastructure needed to build 10 new units of affordable rental housing situated next to the town’s existing 20 units of affordable senior housing.

I also secured $1 million for the Meriden Senior Center. The funds would provide for an optimally located single-building structure where seniors can engage in typical senior center activities while also accessing health and social services provided by the city’s health department.

On Thursday, I joined Rep. John Larson at the Sullivan Senior Center in Torrington for a conversation about the Social Security 2100 Act.

The Social Security 2100 Act is legislation to improve the long-term health of Social Security by ensuring the Social Security Trust Fund is solvent. Specifically, the legislation increases benefits by 2% for all Social Security beneficiaries for the first time in 52 years. The legislation also repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) which currently penalizes many public service employees.  

Recently, former President Trump called for benefit cuts on national television, and just this past week the Republican Study Committee offered a plan to make $1.5 trillion in cuts to Social Security and raise the retirement age. 

In contrast to many of my Republican colleagues and their attempts to cut this crucial program, I joined Rep. Larson in introducing the Social Security 2100 Act with 183 colleagues. Congress must strengthen this program and enhance benefits, not cut them.

There are over 93,300 households in the Fifth District who rely on Social Security. I am committed to safeguarding this vital program for my constituents. 

Learn more about the Social Security 2100 Act here. 

Expanding Access to Mental Health Services

In January, I co-led the introduction of the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act with Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Brian Fitzpatrick. This bipartisan legislation addresses the urgent need for mental health professionals in schools by assisting in hiring school-based mental health services providers to provide school-based mental health services to students and implement evidence-based practices to improve school climate.

Additionally, under the School Based Mental Health Services Grant program, awards are made to school districts and states to directly increase the number of these vital mental health professionals, including school counselors, social workers, psychologists, or other mental health professionals qualified to provide school-based mental health services.

On Thursday, I joined Rep. DeLauro, Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski, Jr, Waterbury Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Verna Ruffin, and several esteemed colleagues for a press conference to highlight the impact that the legislation would have on students in Waterbury.

Children deserve easy access to child-centered and trauma-informed mental health services. We must meet them where they are – in schools. Having qualified health professionals readily available for students improves academic outcomes and plays a key role in healthy development. The funding provided by this legislation would sharply increase the number of mental health professionals in schools who are able to both address crisis and offer preventive care. 

To learn more about the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act, click here. 

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Every year, during March, we honor the extraordinary accomplishments and contributions of women across the globe as part of Women’s History Month. To mark the occasion this year, I was honored to participate in a Women’s Empowerment Panel hosted by Early College High School (ECHS) at Crosby High School in Waterbury. 

Among the panelists were Superintendent of Waterbury Public Schools Dr. Verna Ruffin, Chair of the Waterbury Board of Education Juanita Hernandez, Director of Youth Pipeline and Community Outreach Specialists at Waterbury Hospital Dr. Angela Holmes, Attorney Aza Mosley, Tracey Massicotte of the Waterbury Board of Education, and Keri Bastien of Ion Bank. 

During the panel, I discussed the need for Congress to continue safeguarding critical rights and protections for women. This includes access to a fair wage, workplace protections, access to reproductive healthcare, and equitable opportunities for women and girls to succeed in spaces like STEM. 

Some of my legislative efforts on behalf of women include cosponsorship of the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the STEM Learning Opportunities Act, and the EACH Act. Additionally, I continue to champion efforts for women to make decisions about their own bodies. 

Annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast

On Thursday, I joined Senator Chris Murphy for a St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast in Cheshire.

Held annually, the breakfast is an opportunity to hear from Cheshire constituents about the issues they are most interested in, recognize the accomplishments of local students, and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. 
 
My office was happy to provide Suchita Srinivasan with a congressional recognition certificate. Recently, Suchita participated in the Connecticut Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) competition where she placed first by creating her own Start Up Business Plan.

Casework Highlight

“My high school sibling was having difficulty filling out the new FAFSA from and we could not get anyone from the FAFSA department on the phone. I reached out to the Office of Congresswoman Hayes for support, and her team went above and beyond to help me as much as they could. 

Her caseworker kept me up to date throughout many weeks and worked with the Department of Education to get us answers. I am so grateful for her entire team’s help, and their kindness.”

                                                               - Eli, Canton

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