Dear John,

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

Last week, I joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP), Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski, and local neighborhood groups for the groundbreaking of remediation efforts at the Scovill Industrial Landfill Superfund Site in Waterbury.

More from the week: I attended the Youth Leadership Institute Conference organized by the student senate at Orville H. Platt High School in Meriden. Additionally, I provided a lunch keynote address for the CT Educators Rising Professional Development Conference, an event highlighting efforts to grow the teaching profession.

Finally, please join me in congratulating the winners of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition.

For the full recap, please read below. 

Scovill Superfund Groundbreaking

On Tuesday, I joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator David Cash, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes, Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski, and local neighborhood groups for an exciting event: the groundbreaking ceremony at Scovill Industrial Landfill Superfund Site in Waterbury.

For almost three decades, the Scovill Industrial Landfill site has been unusable because of the harmful levels of waste chemicals – including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other metals.

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed into law by President Biden, the nearly $12 million cleanup of the Scovill Industrial Landfill is fully funded. The cleanup will consist of several phases, including the removal of approximately 6,000 sq. ft. of wetlands; repaving of the plaza’s parking lot to maintain access to local businesses; backfilling of excavated areas with clean soil; installation of a 14,000 cubic yard cap to cover contaminated soil; and the planting of new trees and shrubs to fill the area.

This development is a step in the right direction toward a greener, cleaner Waterbury.

Meriden Youth Leadership Institute

On Wednesday, I started my day at Orville H. Platt High School in Meriden, where I attended the Youth Leadership Institute Conference organized by the student senate. 

The conference featured engaging student-led discussions on nutrition, education, and the arts, as well as breakout groups for students to brainstorm solutions to problems they identify in the local community.

CT Educators Rising 

Educators Rising is a nationwide organization that helps develop the strong leadership traits found in high-quality educators by offering various opportunities for student leadership. Last week, I was invited by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) to provide the keynote address at the CT Educators Rising Professional Development Event.

Decades of inadequate funding for public education have resulted in underpaid teachers, crumbling school buildings, and school districts that do not have the resources to provide a quality education to all students. As an educator, I have worked hard to increase protection, support, retention, and student loan relief for teachers.  

I introduced legislation like the Teacher Debt Relief Act to help teachers pay their college debt faster, allowing teachers to simultaneously enroll in both the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Also, I co-led the Addressing Teacher Shortages Act, which creates a competitive grant program so school districts can pursue a wide range of tools, including certification assistance as well as mentorship and professional development for current teachers, to increase the pipeline from college to the classroom.

We must continue creating classrooms where teachers and students feel safe and can grow.

Celebrating the 2024 Congressional Art Competition Winners

Please join me in congratulating the winners of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition! 

Our first place winner, Katie Yang, a student at The Hotchkiss School, will have her artwork “Girl with Bucket” on display in the United States Capitol to represent CT-05

“Sunday Afternoon”, the artwork of our second place winner, Lauren Niem, will be on display in my Washington, D.C. office. Lauren is also a student at Hotchkiss. 

“Perpetual Work in Progress” by Kaylan Alexander of Danbury High School was awarded third place. You can see Kaylan’s work on display at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury.

Neveah Dyson of Simsbury High School was awarded fourth place for her artwork, “Solitude”.  Neveah’s artwork will be on display in my Waterbury office. 

Congratulations to each of the promising young artists who participated in the Congressional Art Competition this year. 

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