Dear John,

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

Last week, I hosted a special-order hour to highlight the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Thrifty Food Plan ahead of the markup of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, also known as the 2024 Farm Bill. On Friday morning, the House Committee on Agriculture completed the markup on the Farm Bill. Ultimately, I could not support this bill in committee because of the omission of several amendments that would have moved the Farm Bill toward supporting our nation’s farmers and the families that rely on nutrition programs.

More from the week: The Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), convened a subcommittee hearing examining unions and collective bargaining. Also, I met with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Finally, I co-led the introduction of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act.

For my full recap, read below.

Defending SNAP

On Wednesday, I hosted a special-order hour to highlight the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Thrifty Food Plan ahead of the markup of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, also known as the 2024 Farm Bill.

Hunger continues to be a pervasive issue in America. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in 2023 over 42 million people relied on SNAP, and 41% of those households have children. SNAP benefits are modest and average only about $2 per person per meal. The benefits of this program are highly targeted to focus on families with the greatest need. 92% of SNAP benefits go to households with income below the federal poverty line and 54% go to households at or below half of the poverty line. Additionally, every dollar spent on SNAP, generates as much as $1.54 to the local economy.

House Republicans have put forth a Farm Bill that would eliminate the authority of the USDA to reevaluate the Thrifty Food Plan, the scientific method used to determine the amount of SNAP benefits individuals should receive. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this would result in nearly $30 billion in benefit cuts to SNAP. This would be the largest cut to SNAP in over three decades.

This cut would affect nearly 6 million older adults, 4 million people with disabilities and nearly 17 million children, including 5 million children under the age of five.

Hunger is a policy choice, and SNAP is our most effective anti-hunger program. Ensuring the Thrifty Food Plan is protected in the Farm Bill is imperative. 

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act

After 13 hours, on Friday morning the House Committee on Agriculture completed the markup of H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 – also known as the 2024 Farm Bill.

I began the markup hopeful that Members would be able to work together on a Farm Bill that would address the needs of all Americans. Unfortunately, the Farm Bill text as presented does not.

Throughout the markup, several amendments were offered that would have moved the Farm Bill toward supporting our nation’s farmers and the families that rely on nutrition programs. While there were bipartisan amendments I fully agree with and was happy to see included in the Farm Bill, several crucial amendments were not adopted. This includes my amendment that would undo the $30 billion in cuts to SNAP as a result of changes to the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines benefit amounts for individuals and families on SNAP.

An amendment was offered to repeal Republican efforts to remove the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize Commodity Credit Corporation funding to support farmers during times of unpredictable stress caused by climate disaster, geopolitical event, or economic downturn. Another amendment was offered to restore funding to climate initiatives funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that focused on conservation provisions and climate-smart farming. In CT-05 and across the country, farmers utilize programs funded through USDA National Resources Conservation Service to invest in their businesses.

The omission of these amendments in the final Farm Bill text are the reason I ultimately could not support this bill in committee.

The Farm Bill text as presented would cause over 41 million Americans to see their SNAP benefits cut – benefits that are currently about $6.20 a day. Included in these cuts are 17 million children, 5 million children under the age of 5, 4 million disabled Americans, and 6 million seniors. All will see their benefits decrease over the next several years. Additionally, families who rely on Summer EBT for food when children are out of school, will see that program lose $500 million in funding.

I welcome the opportunity to continue to work toward a compromise we can all agree on and pass a Farm Bill in the 118th Congress.

My full statement on the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 is available here.

Protecting the Right to Organize

On Wednesday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), convened a subcommittee hearing entitled, Big Labor Lies: Exposing Union Tactics to Undermine Free and Fair Elections. This is the fifth hearing the Subcommittee has held to attack the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargain. 

Unions continue to support working families. The average union worker is paid about 20% more than the median non-union worker, is 26% more likely to be offered employer sponsored health insurance, and up to 15% more likely to be offered paid leave. 

However, I recognize forming a union is not right for every worker and every workplace. Local workers should have the right to weigh in on the conditions they want included in bargaining efforts.  Yet, many workers are not afforded this opportunity because employers may take advantage of weak enforcement laws or pressure and punish workers for organizing efforts.

I cosponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize Act to ensure workers are safeguarded from unscrupulous employers looking to undermine the agency of workers.  

To listen to my full remarks during the hearing, click here.

Meeting with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provides data and analysis for insurance commissioners to effectively regulate the industry and protect consumers. On Wednesday, I met with NAIC President and Commissioner of the Connecticut Insurance Department, Andrew N. Mais. 

During the meeting, Commissioner Mais shared some priorities of the insurance industry in Connecticut and across the country. 

The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act

This Mental Health Awareness Month, I co-led the introduction of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05). Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Jeff Merkley (OR).

The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act provides dedicated funding to states to lower the staffing ratios for school counselors, school psychologists and school social workers. Specifically, the legislation establishes two five-year renewable grant programs to staff elementary and secondary schools with these critical positions. 

According to the National Institutes for Health (NIH), Students are 21 times more likely to visit school-based health centers for mental health than community mental health centers. Yet, school districts across America too often lack the resources to provide students with the in-school treatment and care they need and deserve. 

The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act would help to close these gaps. 

Learn more about the legislation here. 

 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