Jahana Hayes

This conversation comes at a critical time. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, families across the country are still struggling.

Ensuring all Americans are able to attain sustainable financial stability requires an all-of-government approach.

I was pleased to hear that, because I have a similar concern, and we worked together to have this hearing today.

He shared his concerns that low-income workers may abruptly lose support as they stabilize themselves with employment and reach what we call the benefit cliff.

We are so far apart on where we stand on these issues.

What I'm hearing from my constituents is that it's everything from childcare to low wages.

Let's feed people before they have to stand in line and have the stress of food insecurity.

We have a unique opportunity to take action.

Every single person living in this country deserves to wake up each day without having to worry about where their next meal will come from.

There should be no doubt about the tremendous need for SNAP and other nutrition programs.

Our work will require bipartisan engagement and cooperation.

I am honored to serve as Chairwoman of this crucial Subcommittee and want to publicly express my full commitment to crafting impactful, lasting policy.

We have a unique opportunity to ensure that these supports are strengthened for Americans in each of our districts.

SNAP, and other safety net programs, are not just hand-outs for people unwilling to work toward self-sufficiency.

These programs do work and they are a lifesaver. I know this because they saved my life.

Hunger does not discriminate. It exists in every one of our districts.

SNAP is a hand-up, and not a hand-out, for Americans striving to achieve self-sufficiency.

I remind you of the irony in the fact that those unions are made up of teachers, the same people that you're saying your children need to go back to because they are the life blood.

We want every school to open. We want kids to grow and thrive and learn in those environments, but enough of this, Democrats don't want kids to go to school. That is just not true.

It is incredibly exhausting on this Committee when hearing after hearing we're having conversations as if we don't all recognize the importance of getting kids back to school.

Not one single republican, Mr. Bush, voted for the plan to help your children go back to school.

I have introduced legislation to both diversify the education profession, and to save education jobs.

I also cannot move on without just once again as I say in so many hearings that we hear over and over disparaging comments about teachers unions.

Democrats do care, which is why we voted for 122 billion dollars in education funding with 3 billion of that carved out specifically for special education

The state of Connecticut and my district in particular are clear examples of the critical need for immediate investment in forward-looking, climate change mitigating infrastructure.