Dear John,

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

Yesterday, we remembered the nearly 3,000 lives taken on September 11, 2001. Together we stand in remembrance of all survivors and heroes. May their heroism and bravery never be forgotten.  

Last week I joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and local leaders to celebrate the designation of the Housatonic River as Wild and Scenic. Also, I introduced the School Hunger Elimination Act, legislation to directly certify all school-age students receiving Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Additionally, I led my colleagues on the Democratic Women’s Caucus in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging him to rework the partisan Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, and joined Senator Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, and several esteemed colleagues for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Farmington High School.

An update on our next Passport Day on Sunday, September 22, 2024, is also included.

The House of Representatives is back in session this week; following the August District work period, I remain ready to pass legislation to keep our government open and working for the people of the Fifth District of Connecticut. 

For my full update, please read below.

Remembering 9/11 

Yesterday we remembered the nearly 3,000 lives taken on September 11, 2001.  
 
Still united twenty-three years later, Americans continue to reflect on the many loved ones lost and the selfless first responders who answered the call. To honor the brave men and women who gave their lives responding to the terror attack, in 2019, Congress passed the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. 

I voted for this bill to ensure the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is fully funded and will remain open for those who become ill in the future. 
 
Recently, I joined families and local leaders at the 9/11 Memorial in Sherwood Island Park to pay tribute.  

Together we stand in remembrance of all survivors and heroes. May their heroism and bravery never be forgotten.  

Housatonic Valley Wild and Scenic

On Saturday, I joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and local leaders to celebrate the Wild and Scenic Designation. The celebration was the culmination of four decades of hard work by the dedicated residents of the Northwest Corner. 

In 2022, I introduced the Housatonic Wild and Scenic River Act, legislation to create a U.S. National Park Service protective designation for 41 miles of the Housatonic River, running through Sharon, Canaan, Cornwall, Salisbury, New Milford, Kent, and North Canaan. The designation allows these towns and local advocates to access federal resources and expertise for conservation work along the river. The bill was signed into law by President Biden on December 29, 2022, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 giving federal protection to this section of the river. 

Through 2023, the National System protects 13,467 miles of 228 rivers in 41 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; this is less than one half of one percent of the nation's rivers. The federal designation of 41 miles of the Housatonic River as “Wild and Scenic” will protect the scenic, recreation, geologic, fish, wildlife, historic and cultural values of the region for generations to come.  

School Hunger Elimination Act

Last week, I introduced the School Hunger Elimination Act. This legislation would directly certify all school-age students receiving Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

In Connecticut, one in six children are food insecure.  According to the School Nutrition Association, the NSLP helps over 95,000 public schools, nonprofit private schools, and residential childcare institutions serve school lunches to over 28 million students each school day. Of those, 19 million students receive free lunches, and over 1 million purchase lunch at a reduced price.

Direct NSLP certification would automatically certify income-eligible students to receive free or reduced-price school meals without an application based on family participation in other assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This would ensure more students who would benefit from and otherwise qualify for free or reduced-price school meals are eligible to receive school-based food assistance while reducing administrative costs.

For many students, school is the only place where they receive a healthy meal. Direct certification is a common-sense approach to connect eligible children to essential nutrition programs without families having to worry about undue administrative barriers.

Learn more about the School Hunger Elimination Act here.

Protecting Access to SNAP for Women and Children

Last week, I led my colleagues on the Democratic Women’s Caucus in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging him to rework the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, the partisan farm bill that passed out of the House Committee on Agriculture.

The Farm Bill that passed out of the House Committee on Agriculture would cut $30 billion in food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade, the largest cut to SNAP in nearly twenty years. This would disproportionately impact women and children, who make up the vast majority of SNAP participants.

With the current Farm Bill extension expiring on September 30, 2024, it is imperative Speaker Johnson work with House Democrats to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that helps women, families, and farmers.

Farmington High School

The new, state-of-the-art Farmington High School is open and ready for the school year. Last week, I joined Senator Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, and several esteemed colleagues for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new facility. This is a significant investment by the town and state to give students the best possible environment for learning.

Passport Day

Did you know September is Passport Awareness Month?

My office is hosting another Passport Day at Waterbury City Hall on Sunday, September 22, 2024, from 10AM – 2PM.   

This is an opportunity to renew your passport or apply for the first time. To schedule an appointment, please call 860-223-8412. Walk-ins are also welcome.  

Applications and fees will be collected on site and photos can be taken at the event at no cost. Please note, no passports will be printed on-site. Passports will be mailed to you in accordance with routine processing times.   

For additional details on Passport Day, please click here. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. As always, please continue to share your thoughts and priorities with me.

And that’s a wrap.

Jahana Hayes

Member of Congress