Hayes, Jahana

Jahana Hayes represents Connecticut's 5th congressional district and serves as Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture. In this role, she leads the Democratic opposition on a subcommittee that oversees federal nutrition programs, food security initiatives, and agricultural trade policy. As ranking member, Hayes shapes her party's legislative priorities and questioning strategy during subcommittee hearings and markups, though the majority party controls the agenda.

Hayes brings substantial expertise in education and social policy to her committee work. Before entering Congress in 2019, she spent her career as an educator, teaching government and history at John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury, Connecticut. Her dedication to teaching excellence earned her recognition as the National Teacher of the Year in 2016, making her the first Black woman elected to represent Connecticut in the House. Her background in public education and commitment to student development inform her legislative focus on programs addressing basic needs and opportunity.

Hayes's legislative priorities reflect her focus on food security and nutrition. She has sponsored bills including the School MEALS Act of 2025, the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025, and the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025, demonstrating sustained attention to federal nutrition assistance programs. She also serves on the House Committee on Education and Workforce, where she participates in oversight of early childhood, elementary, and secondary education policy. Her work across these committees connects nutrition, education, and workforce development as interconnected drivers of opportunity for vulnerable populations.