Dear John,

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

Last week, the House considered the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Unfortunately, instead of investing in service members and their families, this legislation cuts funding for several of the programs on which they depend. For this reason, I voted no on final passage of the bill. On Tuesday, I led the introduction of the Save Our Small (SOS) Farms Act of 2024, legislation to improve the farm safety net and expand federal crop insurance by allowing small farms to better access crop insurance policies. Also, I signed a discharge petition to bring the Right to Contraception Act to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.

More from the week: The House Committee on Education and the Workforce convened a hearing, “The Consequences of Biden’s Border Chaos for K-12 Schools”, and I attended the 2024 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference Legislative Breakfast. Lastly, I joined my colleagues on the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force (GVPTF) to mark the start of Gun Violence Awareness Month and the upcoming two-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

For my full recap, please read below.

H.R. 8580, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

Last week, the House considered the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Unfortunately, the legislation as presented would hurt American military readiness, disarm military installations in the face of the climate crisis, and worsen the quality of life for service members and their families.

Specifically, this legislation:

• Cuts military construction by $718 million compared to last year, and underfunds infrastructure needs at the Department of Defense (DOD) that are critical to military readiness recruitment and retention
• Cuts Natural Disaster Recovery construction by $50 million 
• Prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from offering abortion care 
• Undermines the ability to keep guns out of the hands of those prohibited under federal law from purchasing or possessing firearms
• Creates a license for people and organizations to discriminate against LGBTQI+ people

Instead of investing in service members and their families, this legislation cuts funding for several of the programs on which they depend.

For this reason, I voted no on H.R. 8580, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. 

Save Our Small Farms Act

On Tuesday, I led the introduction of the Save Our Small (SOS) Farms Act of 2024, legislation to improve the farm safety net and expand federal crop insurance by allowing small farms to better access crop insurance policies often limited to large, commercial farms to protect their businesses.  The bill is co-led by members of the Connecticut Delegation - Congressman John Larson (CT-01), Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04).

Specifically, the SOS Farms Act creates a streamlined application process to the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), which offers farmers the opportunity to purchase coverage for losses due to natural disasters in areas where crop insurance is unavailable; directs the Farm Service Agency to create an on-ramp from NAP coverage to a true insurance policy under the Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program (WFRP); expands WFRP to allow smaller farms to better access crop insurance policies; and directs USDA to develop an index-based insurance policy that is responsive to crop and income losses due to extreme weather events.

As extreme weather events in Connecticut become more frequent, our farmers must be protected. One catastrophic event could leave these small, generational farms completely devastated and risk closing.

The SOS Farms Act will improve farm safety net programs, ensuring small farms continue to thrive.  Learn more about the legislation here.

Right to Contraception Act Discharge Petition

In 1965, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a landmark decision in Griswold v. Connecticut. The court ruled the U.S. Constitution protects the liberty of married couples to contraceptives without government restriction. 60 years later the right to contraception is not guaranteed.

Last week, over 39 members of the United States Senate voted to block the Right to Contraception Act, legislation to codify the right to access all forms of FDA-approved birth control. I joined my colleagues in the House in signing a discharge petition to bring the Right to Contraception Act to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.

Two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the assault on reproductive freedom continues. Contraception is essential healthcare, and it must be protected under federal law.

Supporting All Students

The House Committee on Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, convened a hearing: “The Consequences of Biden’s Border Chaos for K-12 Schools.”

The hearing sought to examine what impact the current state of immigration is having on K-12 educational institutions. 

My Democratic colleagues and I recognize that something must be done on the problem of immigration in this country. Senate Democrats brought two border security bills negotiated in good faith with Republicans to the Senate Floor – both failed. The need to address the state of immigration is clear. 

However, immigration is not within the jurisdiction of the Education and Workforce Committee, and I believe there are other topics the Subcommittee on Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education could and should address.

Under federal law, all children in the United States have the right to a public education.  In June 1982, the Supreme Court issued Plyler v. Doe, a 5-4 decision holding states cannot constitutionally deny students a free public education based on their immigration status. Undocumented students have the right to a public education. 

Instead of villainizing students based on their immigration status, we should be investing in schools to ensure all students can learn and thrive.

2024 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference

Organized by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), in cooperation with the National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Forum, the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference convenes hundreds of anti-hunger and anti-poverty advocates and government officials. Conference participants learn how to strengthen the quality and reach of federal nutrition programs and identify innovative approaches to ending hunger. 

On Wednesday, I attended their legislative breakfast where I met with over 250 hunger advocates to discuss the importance of federal nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

Like many of the conference participants, I fundamentally believe no one deserves to go hungry in the richest country of the world. Yet the most recent Farm Bill – legislation which sets nutrition and agriculture policy for 5 years at a time – would cut $30 billion from SNAP.  A good Farm Bill does not pit hungry families against the agriculture industry. A good Farm Bill would support our nation’s farmers and the families that rely on nutrition programs. 

Gun Violence Awareness Month 

The House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force (GVPTF) is committed to advancing policy solutions to keep our communities safe. On Tuesday, I stood alongside my colleagues to mark the start of National Gun Violence Awareness Month and the upcoming two-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. 

Signed into law by President Biden in June 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation to protect America’s children, keep schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across the country. The legislation provided $750 million for State Crisis Intervention Programs, enhanced background checks for 18–20-year-olds seeking to purchase a firearm, and increased funding for school safety, school mental health resources, and school resource offers. 

While this legislation was an important step in the fight against gun violence, the work to address the ongoing gun violence epidemic is not done. 

This Gun Violence Awareness Month, as we continue to honor and remember the lives of the victims of gun violence, we also recommit ourselves to the important work of calling out gun violence in all its forms.  

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