Dear John,

I am writing with an update from The Weekly Wrap, a recap of the week in Congress and highlights of my work.

Last week, I attended the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. For the first time in over fifty years, leaders and community partners from across the country came together to drive transformative change and end hunger in the United States. The House passed the Mental Health Matters Act, a comprehensive legislative package to improve access to mental health programs in schools.

Also, the subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations held a hearing “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Title XII – Department Operations and Outreach,” to discuss U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) operations and outreach programs related to provisions in Title XII of the 2018 Farm Bill. Lastly, I joined Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7330 for their annual Gold Star Parents and Families luncheon in Oakville.

For the full recap, please read below.

White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health 

On Wednesday, I joined President Joe Biden, government leaders, and community partners for the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in fifty-three years to accelerate food security programs and drive transformative change to end hunger in the United States. The conference focused on initiatives to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and close the disparities surrounding them.

As the Chairwoman of the Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Subcommittee on the House Agriculture Committee, I have led the effort in calling for and securing $2.5 million to fund the conference. Further, I offered a unique perspective to this effort in my role as Chairwoman and as someone who once relied on federal nutrition programs to feed my family. This perspective has informed my legislation which was incorporated into the Biden-Harris Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, which will serve as the guide to addressing hunger in the United States.

This national convening demonstrated the will of business, civic, academic, and philanthropic leaders to combat the hunger crisis and resulted in more than an $8 billion commitment from the public and private sector partners to meet the ambitious goals laid out by the President. Closing the hunger gap demands a united investment to keep our communities healthy, fed, and safe.

The Mental Health Matters Act 

On Thursday, the House passed the Mental Health Matters Act, a comprehensive legislative package to support the behavioral health of children and school staff, strengthen school-based behavioral health care, and ensure access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits for workers and families.

My bill, the Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act was included in the final text. The Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act would: 

• Develop or improve prevention, screening, referral, treatment and support services to students
• Implement school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports, or other trauma-informed models of support
• Provide professional development to teachers, teacher assistants, school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and mental health professionals and
• Engage with families and communities to increase awareness of child and youth trauma.

Title XII – Department Operations and Outreach

On Thursday, I chaired the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations hearing, A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Title XII – Department Operations and Outreach”.  We discussed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) operations and outreach programs related to provisions in Title XII of the 2018 Farm Bill.  

To strengthen the future of agriculture, USDA programs must be available to all producers.  As we craft the 2023 Farm Bill, it is critical we continue outreach to the new and beginning farmers and farmers from underserved communities. 

As Chairwoman of this Subcommittee, I was also interested to hear from our witnesses on the topics of Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.  

The hearing is available for review here.

Honoring Gold Star Parents and Families

On Sunday, I spent my afternoon in Oakville with Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7330 for their annual Gold Star Parents and Families luncheon. This group has been instrumental in my work to get multiple pieces of legislation signed into law to support service members and their families. 

Nationally, the VFW has played a key role in establishing the Veterans Administration, developing the national cemetery system, fighting for compensation for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. 

Honoring the sacrifice and service of our veterans remains a federal priority.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. Please continue to continue to share your thoughts and concerns with me.

Jahana Hayes

Member of Congress