Jahana Hayes represents Connecticut’s 5th District in the United States House of Representatives. The district spans northwest and central Connecticut and includes Danbury, Litchfield County, the Farmington Valley, the Naugatuck Valley, Meriden, and her hometown of Waterbury. She serves on committees of Education and Labor, and Agriculture where she is the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations.
Congresswoman Hayes is a stalwart supporter of the protection of collective bargaining rights. She has supported the Protecting the Right to Organize Act and championed key labor issues like pay equity, workforce development. Throughout the pandemic, she advocated for premium pay for essential workers and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protections for those on the frontlines. She co-led the National Apprenticeship Act, which would create one million high wage apprenticeship opportunities throughout the country and has been a consistent advocate for the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would ensure workers are protected from discrimination on the basis of gender or pregnancy status. The Congresswoman has consistently supported the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, which would guarantee 12 weeks of paid leave for all Americans, and urged its inclusion in COVID relief and the Build Back Better Act.