Since taking office, Congresswoman Hayes (CT-05) has secured the inclusion of essential resources for veterans and military families in broader legislation signed into law by both Democratic and Republican administrations.
- VA Mental Health Staffing Act – requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit a plan to address the staffing of mental health providers at its facilities. Among other elements, the plan must address the filling of any open positions.
- H.R. 8145 – requires the VA and the Office of Personnel Management to develop an occupational series for licensed professional mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Surviving Families Benefit Expansion Act - authorizes monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses who remarry after the age of 55.
- Palomares Veterans Act - removes barriers to compensation for the veterans who responded to the 1966 nuclear accident in Palomares, Spain.
In the 118th Congress, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) introduced key legislation to address an issue voiced by veterans and military families in the Fifth District.
- The bipartisan, bicameral Caring for Survivors Act of 2023, would adjust monthly benefits for family members and survivors of veterans who lost their lives in service to the United States by increasing Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
The Waterbury District Office of Congresswoman Hayes is also the only Purple Heart Congressional Office in all of New England – recognizing the dedication of Congresswoman Hayes and her office to veterans and their families.
This year, the office has opened 85 military and veteran-related cases and closed 82. Since taking office in 2019, 469 military and veteran-related cases have been successfully resolved, spanning nearly all 41 towns in the Fifth District.
Congresswoman Hayes remains committed to honoring service members by ensuring veterans and their families can access the benefits they have earned.