Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) voted to pass a package of six appropriations bills which helps with the cost of living, protects the rights of women, reinforces the United States as a global leader, and improves safety and security in our communities. The Minibus passed the House by a vote of 286-134, with a majority of the votes coming from Democrats. This package includes funding for Defense, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies, Legislative Branch, and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

“The bipartisan funding package passed by the House puts Connecticut families first,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “This package also rejects proposals to limit access to abortion services and reproductive healthcare, and cuts to education funding. However, like any compromise, this bill includes several provisions I am disappointed in. Unfortunately, this bill cuts funding for vital international aid programs, tax enforcement mechanisms at the IRS and programs to address climate change. While I remain frustrated by the delay in getting this vital funding package passed, I look forward to it advancing through the Senate and being signed into law by President Biden. As we look towards the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations process, I remain committed to working with my colleagues to deliver results for Connecticut’s Fifth District.”

These 2024 funding bills invest in America’s future and delivers for the American people by:

1. Helping with the high cost of living, reducing drug costs, helping with child care and Head Start.
2. Siding with the hardworking majority of Americans by supporting education and job training and placement programs that help Americans find high paying jobs, safeguarding robust worker protection agencies that ensure Americans are safe and properly compensated at work, and ensuring billionaires and wealthy corporations pay the taxes they owe.
3. Protecting women’s rights by blocking attempts to limit women’s access to reproductive health care including the elimination of Title X Family Planning and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grants and supporting the reproductive health of women overseas.
4. Reinforcing America’s global leadership by strengthening defense capabilities, ensuring America can respond anywhere in the world where freedom and democracy are under attack, amplifying American diplomacy, and reaffirming our global commitments to fight climate change and reinforce global health.
5. Helping our communities be safe and secure by funding border security, preventing the trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, bolstering cyber security, protecting consumers from scammers, fraudsters, and dangerous products, and enabling robust and immediate responses to natural disasters.

Among priority issues, the $1.2 trillion funding package includes:

1. $1 billion increase for childcare and Head Start.
2. $120 million increase in funding for cancer research at the National Institutes of Health.
3. $100 million increase for Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia research.
4. Saving 224,000 teachers’ jobs, House Republicans tried to eliminate.
5. Protecting Job Corps and more than 20 K-12 and higher education programs.
6. Blocking 10 House Republican riders to limit women’s reproductive health.
7. 12,000 more Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans who assisted the United States.
8. $1 billion increase in climate change and resilience activities at the Department of Defense.
   
   

The legislation rejects additional poison pill riders proposed by House Republicans, including harmful language that would have:

1. Banned the use of Department of Defense funds to implement climate-related policies.
2. Created a license for people to discriminate against LGBTQI+ people under the guise of religious liberty and prevent the federal government from adequately responding.
3. Prohibited programs from promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
   
   

As part of the first Appropriations Minibus, which was signed into law earlier this month, Hayes secured funding for 14 projects across the 5^th District. The community projects include: 

1. Brookfield: $963,000 for Emergency Radio System Upgrade for the Town of Brookfield
2. Danbury: $1,666,279 for City of Danbury’s Transit Center Project 
3. Goshen: $50,000 for drinking water system improvements at units of affordable housing       
4. Litchfield: $500,000 to upgrade the Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance Facility     
5. Meriden: $1,000,000 for a new Senior Center at the City of Meriden
6. Morris: $300,000 for affordable housing infrastructure with the Morris Housing Authority          
7. New Britain: $959,752 for NB FLUSH to renovate City of New Britain sewer infrastructure       
8. New Britain: $1,000,000 for a homeless center expansion at Friendship Service Center
9. Plymouth: $959,752 for reduction of phosphorous at the Water Pollution Control Facility      
10. Salisbury: $110,000 for the Perry Street Affordable Homeownership project    
11. Torrington: $45,000 for fire suppression system repairs for the Torrington Housing Authority    
12. Waterbury: $850,000 for sidewalk improvements for the City of Waterbury at Hamilton Park
13. Waterbury: $100,000 for a food pantry at The Gathering Place Community Church                
14. Woodbury: $225,000 for Flanders Nature Center to build an environmental education pavilion