Dear friend,

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

Last week, House Agriculture Committee Democrats convened a roundtable on the benefit and administrative cost shifts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The House Committee on Education and Workforce also convened for a full committee markup, and the House considered H.Con.Res.68, a War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. forces from Venezuela.

More from the week: The House considered H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 and H.R. 7147 – Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026. I voted no on this legislation. My full statement is included below.

Lastly, I am including an exciting update on the expansion of my Casework on Your Corner program.

For my full recap, please read below.

House Agriculture Committee Roundtable

On Tuesday, House Agriculture Committee Democrats convened a roundtable on the benefit and administrative cost shifts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that passed as part of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill.

The roundtable featured testimony from state and county officials including Daniel Giacomi, Director of Program Oversight and Grants at the Connecticut Department of Social Services, Administrator Larry Braasch, Deputy Division Director of the New Jersey Division of Family Development, and Joy Bivens, Deputy Country Administrator for Franklin County, Ohio.

The plight facing state budgets cannot be overstated. Under the provisions of H.R. 1, states will be forced to absorb 75% of administrative costs in Fiscal Year 2027 and cover a share of SNAP benefit costs based on flawed error rates. During the roundtable, witnesses shared just devastating these cost shifts will be for states.

I am leading the Restoring Food Security for Families and Farmers Act to repeal these devastating cost shifts. I am also an original cosponsor of the Farm and Family Relief Act.

To learn more about the Restoring Food Security for Families and Farmers Act, please click here.

Additional information on the Farm and Family Relief Act is available here.

House Education and Workforce Committee Markup

On Wednesday, the House Committee on Education and Workforce convened for a full committee markup of three pieces of legislation including H.R. 4624, Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, H.R. 7082, the Fostering Learning and Excellence in Charter Schools (FLEX) Act, and H.R. 7086, the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act.

H.R. 4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act is bipartisan legislation to provide professional boxers with more career opportunities, better pay, and greater safety protections. I was pleased to join my colleagues in advancing this legislation out of committee.

H.R. 7082, the Fostering Learning and Excellence in Charter Schools (FLEX) Act and H.R. 7086, the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act are two pieces of legislation related to planning and implementation of charter schools. During the markup, several amendments were offered to improve these bills but were not adopted. As public education remains under attack, we should not be diverting funds away from public schools.

Additional information on the markup is available here.

Statement on War Powers Resolution

Last week, the House considered H.Con.Res.68, a War Powers Resolution to direct the removal of the United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. The resolution reaffirms the role of Congress as having the sole power to “declare war” and emphasizes the need for Congressional approval before engaging our military in hostilities.

I voted in support of this bipartisan Venezuela War Powers Resolution to block the Trump Administration from engaging in hostilities against Venezuela without proper Congressional oversight.  Unfortunately, the resolution failed by a vote of 215-215.

The Administration has failed to provide any credible justification for military strikes in the region. While they are focused on imposing U.S. control over a sovereign nation, millions of Americans are struggling to afford skyrocketing healthcare costs, unaffordable groceries, and are facing economic insecurity.

No President should be able to unilaterally engage our military without a vote or debate in Congress. The escalation in Venezuela is cause for serious concern and Congress must rein in these unauthorized actions.

H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026

Last week, the House considered H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, which includes the Department of Defense (DOD), Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 341 – 88. 

• The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill increases funding for Head Start and childcare programs, invests in public health and prevention programs at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), includes funding for higher education to help students pay for college, and maintains funding for K-12 elementary schools. 
• The Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development and Related Agencies bill increases funding for Homeless Assistance Grants, makes investments in highways, roads, and bridges, expands funding for air traffic control infrastructure, and protects funding for Amtrak’s National Network and Northeast Corridor.
• While I believe more oversight is needed for funds appropriated for the Department of Defense, the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Defense appropriations bill represents a bipartisan effort to ensure service members and their families are properly supported. Specifically, the bill provides military personnel with a 3.8% raise, includes funding for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program to support medical research, and includes funding for environmental remediation efforts. 

Additional information on H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 is available here.

H.R. 7147 – Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026

The House also considered H.R. 7147, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026, legislation that would allocate nearly $10 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I voted no on final passage of the bill.

My full statement on this legislation is included here:

"I will not vote for a bill that gives ICE more money as public trust in the agency is eroded. This bill does not include broader reforms, including preventing U.S. citizens from being detained, mandating agents to remove masks, wear body cameras or adhere to the constitution, or requiring extensive training of officers. My constituents are horrified by ICE’s well-documented pattern of excessive force, lack of transparency, and disregard for civil and human rights. I join the over 500 civil and human rights organizations in the belief that Congressional funding has enabled DHS to become a dangerous agency operating with impunity.

Protecting our borders and enforcing immigration laws are important to preserving our national security. We can accomplish this while also protecting civil rights and ensuring public safety. The Department of Homeland Security received $150 billion, with $75 billion specifically for ICE, in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enough to fund the agency for almost seven years. We cannot continue to operate without an acknowledgement of the escalating tensions and undermining of community trust in law enforcement. Congress must show that the cruelty and lawlessness of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is unacceptable and this vote is my way of demanding reform.”

Additional information is available here.

Announcing Casework on Your Corner– New Britain

I am excited to share the expansion of my Casework on Your Corner program into New Britain.

The first event in New Britain will be held Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at New Britain City Hall Room 201. Caseworkers will be on-site to help with federal issues, share resources, and answer questions about ways we can be of assistance.

To view the full Casework on Your Corner – New Britain calendar, please click here.

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