Dear John,

As the year comes to a close, I would like to reflect on all we have accomplished together in the 117th Congress.

In the last two years, Congress has supported once in a generation investments to put people back to work, update and modernize our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, and put critical resources in the hands of those who need it most.

At the same time, I recognize that like millions of Americans, my constituents are feeling the impact of inflation and increasing costs of living. These pressing issues have solutions and my colleagues and I are acting decisively to fix them. Last week, Congress passed the fiscal year 2023 budget which will help lower the cost of living for working families, create better paying jobs, and keep our nation and communities safe.

As your Congresswoman, I have worked alongside local leaders and my colleagues in Congress to ensure priorities of the Fifth District remain top of mind in our federal budget. As such, I am pleased to share the Fifth District of Connecticut will receive more than $23 million in community project funding. These projects will support everything from communications system upgrades for law enforcement to facility infrastructure for community health centers to making groundwork to restore CT Rail from Danbury to New York City. To learn more about the fiscal year 2023 legislative package, please click here.

I am proud of all we have accomplished together this term, from advancing key legislation to offering superior constituent service and directing federal resources back to our state. It continues to be my privilege to serve as your representative and I look forward to the work we will do in the 118th Congress. 

For the full 2022 recap, please read below.

Excellence in Constituent Service

My office continues to be a resource for constituents looking for help with navigating federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

My team has returned $9.9 million to constituents through assistance with federal agencies and successfully closed more than 750 cases. 

Additionally, we have had nearly 1.5 million touchpoints in communities across the district through phone calls, emails, and U.S. mail. 

Hearing directly from my constituents is of the utmost importance to me and I am pleased to engage with you as you learn more about your government and the legislative process. 

Advancing Critical Legislation 

In 2022, 5 pieces of my legislation were signed into law including: 

• Housatonic Wild and Scenic River Act
  This legislation would create a U.S. National Park Service protective designation for 41 miles of the Housatonic River which runs through Sharon, Canaan, Cornwall, Salisbury, New Milford, Kent, and North Canaan.  The wild and scenic designation will bring federal resources to the towns along the river to support conservation efforts. 

• The Access to Baby Formula Act
  The Access to Formula Act would allow for certain program requirements in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to be waived so families can more easily access the infant formula they need during times of crisis. This bipartisan legislation passed the House 414 to 9 and was signed into law on May 21, 2022. 

• Palomares Veterans Act
  The Palomares Veterans Act removes barriers to compensation for the veterans who responded to the 1966 nuclear accident in Palomares, Spain. This legislation was included in the final text of the Honoring Our Pact Act, which was signed into law on August 10, 2022.    

• Help Find the Missing Act
  The Help Find the Missing Act or Billy’s Law supports efforts to solve missing persons cases by closing the gaps in law enforcement databases through improved coordination across federal, state, local, and non-profit agencies. Billy’s Law was inspired by Janice Smolinski of Cheshire, Connecticut, after her 31-year-old son, Billy, went missing in Waterbury, Connecticut. While working with law enforcement to locate her missing son, Smolinski was met with systemic challenges. The bill overwhelmingly passed the House in a 422-4 vote.    

• Supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Learning Opportunities Act 
  This legislation was included in the bipartisan Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, a comprehensive, strategic package that makes investments in American manufacturing, science, and innovation. This bill will invest in engaging learning opportunities to strengthen the pipeline of students entering the STEM workforce, especially students from underrepresented groups including women and communities of color.

Federal Resources for the Fifth

On December 23, 2022, Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) appropriations package. The legislation will help lower the cost of living for working families, create better paying jobs, and keep our nation and communities safe. 

I am pleased to share the legislation includes more than $23 million in community project funding for the Fifth District of Connecticut. The projects will support everything from affordable housing and community health centers to system upgrades for local fire departments and support services for law enforcement. The full list is included here:

• WATERBURY: $4,000,000 for renovation of Fulton Park Pool
• WATERTOWN: $3,375,000 for police department radio communications upgrades
• WATERTOWN: $3,000,000 for Main Street safety audit
• WATERBURY: $2,265,000 for education technology equipment, including computers for public schools
• NEW FAIRFIELD: $2,100,000 for the police department emergency communications system upgrade
• DANBURY: $2,000,000 for the Southeast, New York to Danbury, CT Rail Link environmental impact statement
• DANBURY: $2,000,000 for facilities and equipment at Connecticut Institute for Communities, Inc.,
• FARMINGTON: $1,000,000 for K-12 STEM education programs at the University of Connecticut Health Center
• NEW BRITAIN: $1,000,000 for facilities and equipment at Klingberg Family Centers, Incorporated
• LITCHFIELD: $750,000 for expanding agricultural education, afterschool and behavioral health services for youth at Connecticut Junior Republic
• FALLS VILLAGE: $750,000 for affordable housing infrastructure at River Road Homes
• CHESHIRE: $625,000 for a fire protection system at Ball & Socket Arts, Inc.
• WATERBURY: $172,000 for expanding the Police Activity League Program
• NEW BRITAIN: $150,000 for training and outreach programs, services, and literacy supports for under-resourced communities at the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
• NEW BRITAIN: $50,000 for the childcare business incubator program

This funding will be crucial in helping to respond to some of the most pressing needs in the district. Further, it builds upon the fiscal year 2022 community project funding I helped secure this Summer. I look forward to working alongside local leaders for the completion of these projects.

I am excited to share all that was accomplished this term and look forward to continuing to make progress on the issues that matter most to you in the 118th Congress.

As always, please continue to share your thoughts and concerns with me. It remains my honor to serve as your representative and support the people of Fifth District of Connecticut.  Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Jahana Hayes

Member of Congress