Dear friend,

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

It has been 14 days since the government shutdown began. Unfortunately, House Speaker Mike Johnson has canceled votes again. With no bipartisan agreement in place, the timeline for reopening the government remains unclear.

Alongside my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus, I have returned to Washington week after week in hopes of returning to the table to negotiate a path forward that does not compromise the health of my constituents in the Fifth District and families across the country. 

I continue to work on behalf of Connecticut families, and my office remains open and available for constituents. 

For my full recap, please read below.

Steering and Policy Hearing 

On Wednesday, the House Steering and Policy Committee convened a hearing on the Republican Healthcare crisis. 

During the hearing, impacted Americans and Members provided testimony about the impact of ending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that help families afford care. 

For many, increased health insurance premiums will mean less money to spend on energy bills, childcare costs, and groceries. These cuts would be devastating to small business owners, independent contractors, and working families who rely on the marketplace to purchase care.

According to an Access Health CT report of existing customers, a couple in Danbury with an income of $88,000 currently pays $613 in insurance premiums. If ACA subsidies expire, they could see premium costs soar to $4,193 a month – an increase of over $42,000 a year. 

A couple in New Britain paying $607 in monthly insurance premiums could see their premiums increase to $4,286—an increase of $44,000 over the year—nearly half of their annual income.   

It is imperative that Republicans come back to the negotiating table to ensure families who are already working and doing all they can to support their families are not crushed under exorbitant costs. The “One Big Beautiful Bill” provided permanent tax cuts for billionaires, now it’s time to extend health care subsidies for working families.

Call with End Citizens United

On Wednesday, I joined other Members of the House Democratic Caucus, advocacy organizations, and hundreds of concerned callers on a call with End Citizens United, to address the government shutdown.

The call focused on action steps constituents can take to let their Member of Congress know where they stand on this important issue. We also highlighted the steps House Democrats are taking to lower costs for working families.

Statement on Israel/Hamas Agreement

On October 10, 2025, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect. I released the following statement:

“I am encouraged by the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire framework led by President Trump. The deal would bring all the hostages home, increase humanitarian aid into Gaza, and begin the process of finally bring an end to this war.  I am hopeful that all parties will work to fully implement this agreement in good faith.”

I remain committed to advocating for the self determination of Israeli and Palestinians alike and working in a way that supports lasting peace, security and stability in the region.

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