Hayes breaks with Connecticut Congressional Democrats on Israel aid vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes split from the rest of Connecticut’s congressional delegation last week, casting the state’s lone vote in favor of an amendment that would have halted additional U.S. aid to Israel.

Hayes, a Democrat who represents much of northwest Connecticut, voted for an amendment by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., that would have eliminated $3.3 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel.The amendment ultimately failed, 314-104.

Connecticut’s four other House members — Reps. John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro and Jim Himes — voted against the proposal. All are Democrats.

In a statement after the vote, Hayes reaffirmed her longstanding support for Israel while expressing concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“I support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and homeland for the Jewish people,” Hayes said, noting her record of supporting defense funding for Israel. She also said she was “horrified” by reports of children in Gaza being killed, injured and displaced during the war.

Hayes criticized the amendment as “poorly written and extremely broad,” saying it failed to account for humanitarian assistance, embassy operations, educational exchanges and support for Palestinian security forces.

“While I do not agree with the entirety of the amendment, I do believe it opens the door to long overdue, hard conversations on U.S. military aid,” Hayes said.

She added that she applies the same scrutiny to foreign aid as domestic spending.

“I cannot vote to send American taxpayer dollars anywhere in the world without that same level of scrutiny,” Hayes said, adding that constituents in Connecticut’s 5th District are calling for “more thoughtful and deliberate consideration of the path forward for the Israeli and Palestinian people.”