Dear friend, 

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

Last week, in a profound betrayal of the American people, the House Republican majority passed H.R. 1 by a vote of 218 to 214. The legislation was signed into law by the President on July 4, 2025. 

When this bill first passed the House, I called it the most destructive legislation I had witnessed in my tenure. The version returned by the United States Senate is even more cruel. 

I have been unwavering in my opposition to this bill and voted no on final passage. This legislation prioritizes tax cuts for the ultra-rich over the fundamental needs of children and families. This is not fiscal responsibility; it is a financial shell game.

In a financially irresponsible, staggering transfer of wealth from the lowest-income families to the highest, the House Republican Party has chosen to endanger the health and well-being of millions to advance a narrow, partisan agenda.

We have a moral responsibility to ensure every child has access to nutritious food and quality education. I will never use my vote to hurt children, veterans, seniors, and American families.

My full update on H.R. 1 is available below. 

H.R. 1

Last week, in a profound betrayal of the American people, House Republicans passed, H.R. 1. This legislation adds an estimated $4 trillion to the national debt to give over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations – all on the backs of working families, veterans, seniors, and children.

The legislation slashes $900 billion from Medicaid, kicking 17 million people off their health insurance. In the Fifth District, 210,395 people rely on Medicaid, known as HuskyHealth, for care. This includes 91,038 children under 19 and 32,000 seniors over 65. 

Additionally, the bill cuts funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by 20% - the largest cut to nutritional assistance ever. New red tape requirements will cause 5 million people to lose food assistance and put tens of millions of children at risk of losing school breakfast and lunch.

In Connecticut, at least 34,000 people could lose some or all food assistance. This bill forces states to either pay for benefits themselves or make impossible cuts, while adding further administrative barriers designed to make it harder for people to get assistance.  If Connecticut were forced to cover just 10% of SNAP benefits, it would cost the state $89 million – the equivalent of 33 million meals. Over 23 states, including Connecticut, urged Congressional leadership to reconsider cost sharing provisions.

H.R. 1 also drives up the cost of higher education by forcing student loan borrowers into unaffordable repayment plans, reducing Pell grants, and ending graduate PLUS loans.

Further, the bill makes dangerous weapons cheaper - flooding our communities with devices like silencers that make shootings deadlier; defunds Planned Parenthood, which allows millions of women to access basic health care, and cuts funding for clean energy - driving up the costs of home energy bills for families. Connecticut families could see an increase of $340.

When this bill first passed the House, I called it the most destructive legislation I had witnessed in my tenure. The bill returned by the United States Senate is even more cruel. I vehemently condemn this legislation and the unconscionable process that produced it.

House Democrats came together to make it clear that we oppose this horrible bill and we will continue to work on behalf of the millions of Americans who will be left hungrier, poorer, and less healthy as a result of this legislation.

Rules

House Democrats offered over 500 amendments to improve H.R. 1, including my amendment that would strike harmful provisions from the bill that slash food assistance for children, seniors, and veterans.

On Tuesday night, I spoke in support of the amendment before the House Rules Committee. 

The majority voted down my amendment along with every amendment offered by House Democrats in Committee, refusing to bring them to the House floor for a vote.

Debate

During debate, over 100 members of the Democratic Caucus lined up to ask for unanimous consent to amend the rule and make in order the amendment that protects against cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

This procedural action would have provided Members with an opportunity to vote to amend the bill and prevent cuts to these vital programs.

As the Republican majority attempted to jam through the bill under the cover of night, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries shared the stories of families across the country whose lives will be changed by this cruel legislation. 

For nearly nine hours, Leader Jeffries lifted up the voices of everyday Americans from every community, imploring members of the Republican Conference to reverse course and act in the best interest of the people they serve. 

The Congressional Black Caucus also hosted a press conference on the devastating effects of the bill, which rips food out of the mouths of hungry children and diverts funds away from public schools, cutting off the rights of every child to achieve their highest aspirations.

In the wealthiest nation in the world, we can afford to provide children with nutritious food and access to affordable, high-quality education and healthcare.

Final Vote

On Thursday afternoon, I voted against H.R. 1. My no vote reflects my unwavering opposition to a bill that prioritizes tax cuts for the ultra-rich over the fundamental needs of our children and families.

This is not fiscal responsibility; it is a financial shell game. The Republican reconciliation bill makes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in American history, all while adding an estimated $4 trillion to the national debt to give over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations. This is a staggering transfer of wealth from the lowest-income families to the highest, and it is fiscally irresponsible.

The House Republican Party has again chosen to endanger the health and well-being of millions to advance a narrow, partisan agenda.

We have a moral responsibility to ensure every child has access to nutritious food, quality education and healthcare. I will never use my vote to hurt children, veterans, seniors, and American families.

To read my full statement on this vote, please click here.

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