Press ReleaseBipartisan2026-04-29

Hayes Statement on Farm Bill Markup

EnvironmentVeteransInfrastructureAgriculture

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This press release from Representative Jahana Hayes (D-CT) was published on 2026-04-29 and titled "Hayes Statement on Farm Bill Markup". It focuses on the environment and touches on veterans affairs, infrastructure.

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Hayes Statement on Farm Bill Markup

WASHINGTON D.C. - Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. The legislation passed out of the House Agriculture Committee on a vote of 34-17. "After over eighteen hours in a Farm Bill markup and the rejection of almost every amendment offered by Democrats, I voted no on the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. This legislation does not address the needs of families, farmers, or the Ag economy. The Farm Bill, as passed, is filled with many harmful provisions, like a blanket liability exemption for million-dollar pesticide corporations, the rollback of the environmental quality incentives program, and even deeper cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It does nothing to address trade disruptions, rising costs or the pressure on small family farmers. The bill leaves small farms in Connecticut behind by not addressing their issues with being unfairly shut out of traditional crop insurance programs. Last Summer, Republicans passed H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill, which cut $187 billion from SNAP. These cuts have created a massive unfunded mandate on state governments, expanded work requirements for older Americans, veterans and parents with children, and eliminated the ability for families to use SNAP participation as an indicator for energy assistance programs or broadband access. I offered five amendments to restore food security for Americans by repealing the cuts in H.R. 1, rescinding the administrative cost shift to states, addressing the lack of crop insurance reform for small farmers, expanding access to SNAP for individuals in Puerto Rico, and ensuring SNAP benefits can be used to purchase hot foods. Unfortunately, none of these amendments were adopted. More than 200 organizations, including farm, labor, conservation, hunger, and animal welfare groups, opposed this legislation. Notable opponents included the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC), the League of Conservation Voters, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Protecting Connecticut farmers and feeding hungry people were my main objectives going into this markup. This was a missed opportunity to rebuild the Farm Bill coalition and work in a bipartisan manner to support families and farmers across the country. I will continue to work to address the pressing needs of my constituents affected by this legislation."

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Hayes Statement on Farm Bill Markup WASHINGTON D.C. - Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. The legislation passed out of the House Agriculture Committee on a vote of 34-17. "After over eighteen hours in a Farm Bill markup and the rejection of almost every amendment offered by Democrats, I voted no on the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. This legislation does not address the needs of families, farmers, or the Ag economy. The Farm Bill, as passed, is filled with many harmful provisions, like a blanket liability exemption for million-dollar pesticide corporations, the rollback of the environmental quality incentives program, and even deeper cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It does nothing to address trade disruptions, rising costs or the pressure on small family farmers. The bill leaves small farms in Connecticut behind by not addressing their issues with being unfairly shut out of traditional crop insurance programs. Last Summer, Republicans passed H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill, which cut $187 billion from SNAP. These cuts have created a massive unfunded mandate on state governments, expanded work requirements for older Americans, veterans and parents with children, and eliminated the ability for families to use SNAP participation as an indicator for energy assistance programs or broadband access. I offered five amendments to restore food security for Americans by repealing the cuts in H.R. 1, rescinding the administrative cost shift to states, addressing the lack of crop insurance reform for small farmers, expanding access to SNAP for individuals in Puerto Rico, and ensuring SNAP benefits can be used to purchase hot foods. Unfortunately, none of these amendments were adopted. More than 200 organizations, including farm, labor, conservation, hunger, and animal welfare groups, opposed this legislation. Notable opponents included the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC), the League of Conservation Voters, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Protecting Connecticut farmers and feeding hungry people were my main objectives going into this markup. This was a missed opportunity to rebuild the Farm Bill coalition and work in a bipartisan manner to support families and farmers across the country. I will continue to work to address the pressing needs of my constituents affected by this legislation."