Dear friend,

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

Last week, the House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup of six bills. Also, the House Committee on Agriculture convened a full committee markup entitled, An Examination of the State of the Specialty Crop Industry. On the Floor, the House passed H.Res.719, Honoring the life and legacy of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, and H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026. My statements on both votes are included below.  

Education and Workforce Markup

On Wednesday, the House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup of six pieces of legislation including the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2024, Balance the Scales Act, EBSA Investigations Transparency Act, Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program Act, Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act, and Retire though Ownership Act.

The Retire though Ownership Act is bipartisan legislation to provide legal and regulatory clarity in the formation of new Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). The Retire through Ownership Act advanced through committee on a bipartisan basis. 

I voted no on the remaining five bills which passed out of committee along party lines, because they would strip workers of protections provided under the National Labor Relations Act and Fair Labor Standards Act, and limit the ability of the Employee Benefits Security Administration’s (EBSA) to support workers and retirees. 

An Examination of the State of the Specialty Crop Industry

On Tuesday, the House Committee on Agriculture convened a full committee hearing entitled, An Examination of the State of the Specialty Crop Industry. 

Defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, specialty crops account for a large portions of the farm economy in Connecticut. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, over $362 million of farm sales in Connecticut came from nursery, greenhouse, horticulture, and sod growers, and an additional $89 million in sales came from farms producing vegetables, fruits, or nuts. 

The need for crop insurance reform is evident, especially in our state. I reintroduced the Save Our Small Farms Act to help farmers with limited access to crop insurance receive more accurate payouts from the Non-insured Disaster Assistance Program, while creating an on-ramp to a Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program. This will ensure small, diversified operations in our state and our country have the resources they need.

Learn more about the Save Our Small (SOS) Farms Act here.

Statement on Resolution Honoring Charlie Kirk

Last week, the House passed H.Res.719, Honoring the life and legacy of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk.  I voted no on the resolution. My statement is included below. 

“I voted no on the resolution, “Honoring the life and legacy of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk". I condemn political violence in all forms - this resolution was not that. I also respect the First Amendment and believe that people have the right to express their ideas and opinions. I did not agree with many of the opinions expressed by Charlie Kirk, but I will defend his right and the rights of all Americans to express them. I voted no because I did not agree with the text of this resolution, which honors the leadership and legacy of a person whose viewpoints do not align with my values or beliefs.

“The fear of violence or intimidation expressed by so many for having any difference of opinion cannot be understated, and that was a consideration when casting my vote.

“I am a cosponsor of a resolution introduced by Mark Veasey (TX-23), which denounces all political violence. I call upon all Americans, regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed, to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.”

Update on Government Funding

Last week, the House passed H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026. 

I voted no on this Republican funding bill, which was a continuation of the same bill I voted against earlier this year. This legislation paves the way for nearly $1 trillion in healthcare cuts that will kick 15 million Americans off their insurance, with premiums expected to rise by over 75 percent.

The Continuing Resolution continues the cuts to veterans benefits, healthcare programs, rent subsidies, and food and nutrition programs that I rejected earlier this year.

Moreover, this legislation was drafted with no input from Democrats, ignoring the urgent needs of families in the Fifth District already struggling with the rising cost of living from the policies of the current administration.

I remain committed to working on finding solutions and will not settle for partisan legislation which raises costs and continues to decimate programs. The health and financial security of millions are on the line. I urge the Senate to reject this bill and prioritize the needs of the American people.

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