Dear friend, 

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

Last week, the House Agriculture Committee convened for a full committee markup of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025. On Wednesday, the Committee reconvened for a full committee hearing, For the purpose of receiving testimony from the Honorable Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Also, I introduced the School Violence Prevention Act. This legislation would provide organizations with grants to create or expand school-based programs to support children at the highest risk for involvement in gun violence. Additionally, I joined the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) in marking the next chapter of transformative work to protect the environment.

More from the week: Unfortunately, the House Republican majority advanced H.R. 4, a $9.4 billion rescissions proposal that hurts middle class and working families, undermines national security, and cuts funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Also, the House considered the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act for a third time. As I have in previous Congresses, I voted against this legislation. I am including my statement on both votes below. 

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act

On Tuesday, the House Committee on Agriculture convened a full committee markup of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025. This legislation establishes a regulatory framework for the offer and sale of digital commodities by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Unfortunately, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 does not provide the Commodity Futures Trading Commission with sufficient resources to fulfill its responsibilities of protecting Americans from fraud. Specifically, this bill does not authorize an increase in funding to support full-time CFTC employees and fails to address the blatant corruption evident in the White House regarding cryptocurrencies and digital assets.

The President has earned $148 million by selling his own meme coin in exchange for direct access to a private dinner with him at one of his golf clubs—literally selling access to the Commander-in-Chief.  How can the public expect any confidence in the integrity of our digital assets markets when the President of the United States can use them to enrich himself? Further, the bill does not contain safeguards that new regulations will be implemented as Congress intended in the face of presidential overreach.

For these reasons, I could not support the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 in its present form.

Listen to my remarks here.

House Committee on Agriculture Hearing

On Wednesday, the House Committee on Agriculture reconvened for a full committee hearing entitled, For the purpose of receiving testimony from the Honorable Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

My remarks emphasized the importance of investing in small farms, such as Guardians Farm, a veteran-owned, first-generation dairy farm in Southbury, Connecticut, which began operations in 2020 and sells its dairy products at local farmstands on weekends.  

Two years of heavy rains resulted in fewer visitors to the farm and damage to the pasture, barns, and chicken coup. Earlier this year, they requested $50,000 to help offset lost revenue and cover repairs. As of today, they have not received any disaster assistance.

I asked the Secretary why the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had directed Connecticut to choose between the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) which would fund larger operations, and the Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant which would provide targeted relief to smaller farms in smaller states. As farm loss in New England continues to grow, it is imperative small farms are able to access the relief Congress provided for them. 

The fiscal year 2026 budget proposal would cut $250 million from the Farm Service Agency – cutting resources and staff. I inquired about how USDA will continue to be responsive to the needs of Connecticut farmers amidst these cuts.

My remarks are available here. 

School Violence Prevention Act

Last week, I reintroduced the School Violence Prevention Act. This legislation would provide organizations with grants to create or expand school-based programs to support children at the highest risk for involvement in gun violence. 

In Connecticut, juveniles make up 11.5% of weapons violation arrests.  Estimates show three million children witness a shooting each year, and the consequences of gun violence can be far-reaching beyond being hit by a bullet. Exposure to gun violence is linked to post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, in addition to other mental health concerns among youth.

We must eliminate the cycles of gun violence in our schools and communities. The School Violence Prevention Act aims to interrupt the cycle of gun violence by offering education-based programs to at-risk youth. 

Learn more about the School Violence Prevention Act here.

League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Capital Dinner

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) works to address the climate crisis, confront environmental justice, and protect democracy. Their work has been integral to helping advance climate-smart legislation through Congress, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Last week, I joined LCV as they embarked on their next chapter of transformative work. I look forward to our continued partnership in preserving and protecting our planet. 

The HALT Fentanyl Act

Last week, the House considered the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act for a third time. As I have in previous Congresses, I voted against this legislation. 

This bill represents a dangerous and ineffective approach to a critical public health crisis, doubling down on failed strategies of the past rather than embracing evidence-based solutions.

The HALT Fentanyl Act permanently schedules fentanyl-related substances on Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act with no consideration of potential medical applications. This legislation would also impose a mandatory minimum prison term for anyone knowingly or unknowingly possessing fentanyl, eliminating judicial discretion and preventing judges from tailoring punishments to individual cases.

We cannot incarcerate our way out of a public health crisis.

My full statement on this vote is available here.

The Rescissions Act

Weeks after the House Republican majority passed H.R. 1, the most devastating cut to social safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid, they are now advancing additional cruel cuts.

On Thursday, House Republicans passed H.R. 4, a $9.4 billion rescissions proposal that hurts middle class and working families and undermines national security. This package terminates $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which directly allocates funds to more than 1,500 locally owned public television and public radio stations. These cuts are especially cruel to rural communities where public radio stations are often the only reliable news source available. 

The package also eliminates all of the civilian funding intended to support Ukraine and other partners in Eastern Europe and Central Asia facing aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin, rescinds $2.5 billion of development resources away from partner countries – pulling more than 40 million kids out of school, and cuts more than 25 percent of the resources provided to support people feeling conflict and starvation. 

This rescissions package is a rubber stamp approval of the Trump and DOGE agenda to slash public good programs.

 I voted no on this rescissions package and implore my colleagues in the Senate to do the same. 

That’s a wrap. 
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this update. Please be assured I will continue to advocate for your priorities.

Jahana Hayes 
Member of Congress