Dear friend,

After a very productive in-district work period, I am writing with your Weekly Wrap, a recap of the week in Congress, and highlights of my work. Last week was full of constituent meetings and events across the district.

I started the week in New Britain, with a facility tour of CW Resources and Lincoln Technical Institute. In the afternoon, I participated in a town hall with members of AFSCME Council 4 and AFL-CIO. On Tuesday, I met with staff and volunteers at Community Kitchen of Torrington and later heard impact stories from AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers and staff of New Opportunities Incorporated.

More from the week: On Wednesday, I joined Connecticut  Comptroller Sean Scanlon, Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves, and several community leaders for a timely roundtable conversation on Medicaid. On Thursday, I met with United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) and participated in the 2025 University of Connecticut (UConn) Health Hunger Symposium. Our conversations focused on addressing the issue of food insecurity and safeguarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

For my full recap, please read below.

CW Resources

Headquartered in New Britain, CW Resources aims to help create a society where persons with disabilities can access job training, meaningful employment, and feel empowered. Through a partnership with AbilityOne, CW ensures people who are blind or have significant disabilities, including 3,200 veterans, receive job training and employment in a variety of occupations. For every federal dollar invested, CW invests $2.66 back into the economy.

On Monday, I joined CW Resources for a facility tour. This was a great way for me to see the work of CW firsthand.

Lincoln Technical Institute

Did you know Lincoln Technical Institute was founded in 1946 to help veterans returning from World War II obtain the skilled trades training needed to re-enter the civilian workforce?

Today, Lincoln Tech continues to offer skilled trades like welding and HVAC, automotive, health sciences, and information technology programs, and has enrolled over 8,800 students across Connecticut campuses. With an 83% graduation rate, Lincoln Tech is helping to prepare students for careers of the future.

AFSCME AFL- CIO Town Hall

I finished the day at a town hall with members of AFSCME Council 4 and AFL-CIO. Our conversation focused on the importance of protecting the rights of workers to collectively bargain, safeguarding voting rights, and standing up for social security.

Recently, I cosponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, legislation to enshrine worker protections into law.

Community Kitchen of Torrington

On Tuesday, I met with staff and volunteers at Community Kitchen of Torrington. The Community Kitchen of Torrington serves hot meals to those in need seven days a week, and partners with local providers to provide wrap around supports. Funding cuts to emergency food providers would dramatically affect operations at the facility. I am continuing to work to secure funding for valuable community programs.

AmeriCorps Seniors

AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program provides grants to engage Americans 55 years and older in volunteer service. On Tuesday, I met with volunteers and staff of New Opportunities Incorporated.

The group shared the impact funding cuts to AmeriCorps would mean to the populations they serve and the importance of building multi-generational relationships.

Medicaid Roundtable

I started Wednesday morning in Danbury with Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon, Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves, state elected officials, and several community leaders for a timely roundtable conversation on Medicaid.

The House Republican Budget instructs the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion in federal funding. It is impossible to adhere to these budget guidelines without devastating cuts to Medicaid services, which 800,000 people in Connecticut depend on.

The roundtable focused on how federal and state leaders are responding to any proposed cuts.

Meeting with the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW)

The United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) is one of the largest labor unions made up of 1.2 million members across various industries including grocery stores, meatpacking and food processing, healthcare and retail.

On Thursday, I met with representatives of the group to discuss the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Nearly 43 million people rely on SNAP, including 39,095 households in the Fifth District. The proposed cuts to SNAP would have a direct impact on jobs and the economy as every dollar spent on SNAP generates $1.50 in economic activity.

UConn Health Hunger Symposium

On Thursday afternoon, I attended the 2025 University of Connecticut (UConn) Health Hunger Symposium: Addressing Food Insecurity in Connecticut, a collaboration between the UConn School of Medicine Offices of Curricular Affairs and Continuing Medical education.

Food insecurity continues to be a problem across the country, particularly on college campuses. I introduced the Closing the College Hunger Gap Act to better inform students of their eligibility for SNAP using information reported through FAFSA.

Additional information on the Closing the College Hunger Gap Act is available here.

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. Please be assured I will continue to advocate for your priorities.

Jahana Hayes

Member of Congress