Dear John,

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

After much delay, the opening session of the 118th Congress took place on January 7, 2023. I enter the 118th Congress with the same dedication, purpose, and love of my community as I did on my first swearing-in. 

Last week, the House took action to hold China accountable by passing the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, legislation to prohibit the direct or indirect sale of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  Also, I joined my colleagues in passing H.Res. 11, bipartisan legislation to establish a Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.

The House also considered the 118th rules packages  and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which seeks to criminalize abortion; the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, legislation to cut funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); and provisions to undercut the authority of the Office of Congressional Ethics.

For the full recap, please read below.

Opening of the 118th Congress

On Tuesday, January 3, 2023, I returned to Washington, ready to be sworn in for the 118th Congress and continue my work for the people of the Fifth District of Connecticut. However, House Republicans struggled to elect a speaker and the official opening session of the 118th Congress did not occur until early hours of January 7, 2023.
 

Despite these significant delays, I remain ready to work for you and find consensus when possible with the new House Republican majority. I enter the 118th Congress with the same dedication, purpose, and love of my community as I did on my first swearing-in. I remain committed to providing you with updates to keep you informed on how my work impacts you, your families, and our communities. 

In case you missed it, our office has moved in the 118th Congress. We are now located at 2458 Rayburn House Office Building.

Holding China Accountable

On Tuesday, I voted to pass  H.Res. 11, bipartisan legislation to Establish a Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Community Party (CCP). The select committee is tasked with investigating and submitting policy recommendations concerning the status of the economic, technological, and security progress of the Chinese Communist Party and its competition with the United States. The legislation passed with a vote of 365 –65.

Additionally, Democrats and Republicans joined to pass the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act. This bipartisan legislation would prohibit the Secretary of Energy from drawing down or selling petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to any entity that is under the ownership, control, or influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

House Rules Package

Each Congress, the House considers a rules package to govern how legislative business will proceed. I was a no vote on the rules package that was presented, as I feel it undermines our nation’s values and makes it harder for Congress to work for the people. 

This package includes limits to the authority of the Office of Congressional Ethics, attacks on women’s health freedom, and provisions that make it easier to cut taxes for billionaires and big corporations.

In the face of these challenges, I continue to work to amplify these issues of importance.

Opposing Attempts to Criminalize Abortion

On Wednesday, the house considered the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, legislation to spread misinformation in a brazen effort to ban safe and legal abortion. The legislation adds extreme criminal and financial penalties against medical professionals and intrudes on the doctor-patient relationship. The law has always protected newborn infants from both intentional harm by health care practitioners and harm from negligence. In 2002, Congress passed the bipartisan Born-Alive Infant Protection Act to reiterate the fact.

I support a woman’s right to choose. This anti-abortion legislation is deliberately misleading and perpetuates harmful myths about essential health care. Most alarming, it forces providers to act against their best medical judgment and make decisions out of fear, compromising the quality of care.

My position on this issue has been clear and consistent; every woman deserves to make her own medical decisions with a provider without government intervention. I will continue to fight to protect reproductive freedom and ensure the health and safety of women and their families.

The Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act

Additionally, the House considered the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, legislation to eliminate funding from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Instead of putting everyday workers first, the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act enables tax evaders and adds $114 billion to the national deficit. Further, the bill reduces the ability of the IRS to hold wealthy individuals and large corporations accountable.

The IRS has been understaffed for years and it is felt by my constituents in the district. Thirty percent of our casework comes from constituents seeking help, or even a response from the IRS. As your Congresswoman, I am deeply committed to supporting policies that prioritize people over politics and increase tax fairness for all.

If you are a resident of the Fifth District and need help navigating an issue with the IRS, please contact my office at (860) 223 – 8412. 

Casework Highlight

The Office of Congresswoman Hayes helped me receive my IRS refund of $1,700. The refund was delayed for 3-months. As a single mother, [it] was important for me to receive my refund, especially due to inflation. Thank you, Congresswoman! 

- Chiasohsin, Danbury

Jahana Hayes

Member of Congress