Dear friend,

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

Last week, on the heels of Labor Day, I reintroduced the Tipped Worker Protection Act, legislation designed to ensure millions of American workers receive their full tips in addition to the federal minimum wage. Also, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education convened a hearing entitled, Foundations First: Reclaiming Reading and Math through Proven Instruction. Additionally, the Congressional Labor Caucus hosted a meeting with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). 

More from the week: The House advanced H.R. 4553, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2026. I voted against this legislation because it dramatically increases energy prices, slashes clean energy funding by nearly half, and revokes billions in funding for new infrastructure. I am also including an update on the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

For my full recap, please read below.

Tipped Worker Protection Act

Last week, I reintroduced the Tipped Worker Protection Act, legislation designed to ensure millions of American workers receive their full tips in addition to the federal minimum wage.

The Tipped Worker Protection Act aims to correct decades of wage inequality by ensuring fair pay and financial security for millions of tipped workers across the country.

It is unacceptable that in 2025, we operate under a system where the tipped minimum wage is $2.13 per hour – a rate unchanged since 1991. The Tipped Worker Protection Act is about restoring dignity to the service industry and affirming that every worker receives the full federal minimum wage in addition to any tips they earn.

Learn more about my Tipped Worker Protection Act here. 


Foundations First: Reclaiming Reading and Math Through Proven Instruction

On Wednesday, the House Committee on Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education convened a hearing entitled, Foundations First: Reclaiming Reading and Math through Proven Instruction.
 
The hearing examined the importance of data-driven instruction and its impact on student performance. Data is an important tool to inform decision making.

It is not the role of the federal government to write curriculum or develop instructional materials for the classroom. The role of the federal government is to support state and local efforts in adopting policies and laws that promote effective literacy practices. Ultimately, states and local school districts determine how literacy programs are created and implemented, not Congress nor the committee.

A better use of the committee’s time and resources would be supporting funding for Title 1A programs that provide for teacher development and training, Title II teacher preparation programs, and programs that promote effective literacy.

Listen to my full remarks during the Foundations First: Reclaiming Reading and Math through Proven Instruction here.

 
Labor Caucus Meeting

Last week, the Congressional Labor Caucus hosted a meeting with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). IUPAT represents painters, glassworkers, builders, and contractors across several industries, including workers at Revolution Wind.
 
Revolution Wind is a joint offshore wind clean energy project between Connecticut and Rhode Island that would provide 350,000 homes with reliable, affordable power. Revolution Wind has generated more than 2 million union labor hours across more than 1,000 local union jobs.

Unfortunately, the future of Revolution Wind remains uncertain as the Trump Administration abruptly announced a stop-work order for the project. The cancellation of Revolution Wind and similar wind projects across the country underscores the fact that the Administration is not a reliable partner for working people. Despite being promised jobs and being on an active job site, workers were fired overnight because the Administration rescinded support for a project that was more than 80% complete.

Just days removed from Labor Day, the Administration continues to fail to deliver for American workers and their families.


Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

On Thursday, the House advanced H.R. 4553, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2026. I voted against this legislation because it raises energy prices, slashes clean energy funding by nearly half, and revokes billions in funding for new infrastructure. The bill also jeopardizes energy independence and hurts American competitiveness. 

Specifically, Connecticut will experience a 42% cut to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) programs. EERE programs work to reduce energy consumption and provide affordable energy options to lower costs for households and businesses. As energy prices continue to soar, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act drives up the cost of living for Connecticut families.

H.R. 4553 also weakens national security, leaving Americans more vulnerable to nuclear threats by cutting the National Security Administration (NSA) Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation account by 17%; and abandons commitments to communities to clean up radioactive waste by cutting the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management by 9 percent and eliminating funding for the Corps of Engineers’ Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program. 

Additional information on the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2026 is available here.

Epstein Files Transparency Act

Last week, I signed a discharge petition to force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This bipartisan legislation would require the Attorney General to release all relevant Department of Justice (DOJ) documents and records related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days.

Specifically, the legislation directs the Department of Justice, including the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, to release materials related to investigations and prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, individuals and entities connected to Epstein’s activities or immunity deals, and records surrounding the death and detention of Epstein.

The President ran on a promise that he would release the files. The American people and survivors demand transparency.

Additional information on the Epstein Files Transparency Act is available 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