Dear Friend,

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

Last week, I voted no on H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025, to protect communities in the Fifth District from harmful cuts. My full statement on this vote is included below.

More from the week: On Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Early Child, Elementary, and Secondary Education convened a hearing entitled, Education Without Limits: Exploring the Benefits of School Choice, and I signed on to a discharge petition to bring bipartisan legislation to the floor to permit proxy voting for new parents. 

I am also including an update on the 2025 Congressional Art Competition.

For my full recap, please read below. 

Government Shutdown

On Tuesday, House Republicans passed H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025.

I voted no on the bill because it increases defense spending by $6 billion, while slashing vital programs and services by $13 billion. This bill does not represent good faith negotiations, instead it cuts nearly $23 billion in veterans benefits and $280 million in healthcare programs, takes away rent subsidies for low-income and working Americans and neglects to fully fund the Emergency Food Program by $20 million.

Furthermore, the Continuing Resolution (CR) strips FY 2025 Community Project Funding, which Congress has already approved for infrastructure, economic development, educational and public safety projects across the Fifth District.

Most concerning, the legislation provides President Trump and Elon Musk with unchecked autonomy to further their efforts in dismantling essential government services, bypassing congressional oversight.

I weigh the impact of every vote I take on the people who have trusted me to represent them, and while this vote could determine funding to keep our government open, I cannot support this bill at the expense of our most vulnerable and set the stage for a slow shutdown of our government and the services provided.

This Continuing Resolution is a blank check to the Trump Administration to continue to illegally dismantle the agencies critical to maintaining our national safety and security and supporting all Americans. If Republicans feel this is their mandate, they should have been able to pass the bill on their own. 

Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Hearing

On Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education convened a hearing entitled, Education Without Limits: Exploring the Benefits of School Choice. The hearing examined the role of private voucher programs which drain public school funds.

The promise of quality education requires us to invest in all students, not just a select few. Instead of draining public school funds for private voucher programs, Congress should prioritize fully funding IDEA & the wrap around services that help students thrive.

The full hearing is available here.

Proxy Voting for Parents 

Parental leave is vital, not a luxury. It fosters bonding and benefits families.

Last week, I signed onto a discharge petition to bring bipartisan legislation to the floor that would permit proxy voting for new parents for 12 weeks. 

Specifically, the legislation would: 

• Allow Members who are new moms and dads to vote by proxy for up to 12 weeks, excluding proxy votes from establishing a quorum
• Permit pregnant Members to proxy vote if a pregnancy-related medical condition prevents travel, with any pre-birth proxy voting counting toward the 12-week parental leave limit.

Additional information on the resolution is available here. 

Congressional Art Competition

Calling all CT-05 high school artists! 

Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives in collaboration with the Congressional Institute. The competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation, particularly right here in the Fifth Congressional District.  

The winning artwork of our district competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol as part of an exhibit with winners from around the country. The second-place artwork will be displayed in my Washington D.C. Office, the third place will be displayed for one year at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT, and fourth place will be displayed in my District Office.  

The Mattatuck Museum will accept submissions beginning Tuesday, March 11, 2025, through Friday, March 28, 2025.

The deadline for submitting work to be considered for the 2025 Competition is Friday, March 28, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

All submissions will be on exhibit at the Mattatuck Museum from April 5, 2025 - May 4, 2025. Visitors will be welcome to visit the exhibition.  

For additional participation guidelines, please click here. 

That’s a wrap.  

Jahana Hayes 
Member of Congress