Policy pillars — derived from activity record
Electoral integrity
16 actionsHayes supports election monitoring and ballot tracking measures while opposing citizenship verification requirements, reflecting a pattern prioritizing voting access over restrictive integrity safeguards.
Criminal justice
49 actionsHayes demonstrates a consistent pro-criminal justice enforcement orientation, supporting drug control funding, human trafficking initiatives, and increased penalties for serious crimes while opposing measures that would weaken law enforcement accountability or expand juvenile prosecution.
Fiscal policy
88 actionsHayes's fiscal policy votes reflect support for revenue-enhancing measures and spending on social programs while opposing restrictions on federal spending authority and presidential impoundment powers.
Healthcare
34 actionsHayes demonstrates a consistent progressive orientation on healthcare, supporting expansions of public health infrastructure, disease prevention measures, and federal funding for vulnerable populations while opposing efforts to weaken healthcare protections or reduce government health program support.
Education
27 actionsHayes demonstrates support for parental involvement in education and student support services while opposing certain workforce training and financial aid efficiency measures.
Economy and labor
48 actionsHayes demonstrates consistent support for policies that expand small business access to capital and financing while backing both trade liberalization and labor organizing rights.
Environment and energy
165 actionsHayes demonstrates a complex environmental voting pattern that combines strong support for pollution prevention and species protection with opposition to measures weakening EPA enforcement authority, suggesting prioritization of regulatory oversight over streamlined development approaches.
Immigration
51 actionsHayes's votes on immigration reflect conflicting positions, opposing restrictive deportation measures and asylum restrictions while also supporting some border security oversight and opposing certain immigration accommodation policies.
National security and foreign policy
188 actionsHayes demonstrates consistent support for strengthening national security through sanctions regimes, financial transparency measures, and enhanced defense capabilities.
Civil rights and liberties
45 actionsHayes shows a complex civil rights voting pattern, supporting protections against discrimination and violence while opposing certain restrictions on speech and expression, reflecting tensions between competing liberty interests.
Social policy
24 actionsHayes demonstrates strong support for expansive social safety net policies, consistently backing measures that increase benefits for vulnerable populations and strengthen protections for children, families, and underserved communities.
Technology and data
34 actionsHayes demonstrates strong support for technology development paired with robust consumer privacy protections and federal oversight, while opposing deregulatory frameworks that prioritize industry innovation over safeguards.
Civil liberties and government power
7 actionsHayes consistently votes against measures that would constrain government surveillance authority, protect speech from state pressure, or limit executive power over information access.
Government accountability and transparency
137 actionsHayes's votes on government accountability and transparency show inconsistent support, with backing for direct accountability mechanisms like censure and federal performance reporting alongside opposition to ethics disclosure requirements and congressional oversight procedures.
Infrastructure and public investment
28 actionsHayes consistently supports public investment across diverse infrastructure domains including transportation, utilities, broadband, water systems, and space exploration, demonstrating a strong ideological commitment to federally-funded infrastructure development.
Activity ledger — most recent first
Jan 13, 2026
Hayes spoke for 60 minutes during a Special Order hour to discuss concerns about the impact of a presidential executive order directing the dismantling of the Department of Education on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the 7.5 million children with disabilities who rely on its services.
Dec 15, 2025
Hayes led a Special Order hour to discuss the systemic dismantling of the Department of Education, stating that the Trump administration and Secretary Linda McMahon have attacked the Department, that a reduction in force affected nearly 50 percent of its workforce, that the President's executive order directing closure of the Department is illegal, and that six new interagency agreements shifting Department functions to other agencies represent a devastating action.
Mar 11, 2025
Hayes introduced the Feed Hungry Veterans Act, legislation to amend the definition of "elderly or disabled" for SNAP to include veterans with one service-connected disability rated at 60 percent or higher or two or more service-connected disabilities, at least one of which is rated 40 percent or higher.
Feb 13, 2025
Hayes introduced the All Access Act with 44 colleagues to ensure Members of Congress have access to Federal buildings upon showing a valid Member ID.
Feb 6, 2025
Hayes led the introduction of the bipartisan Caring for Survivors Act, which would increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits from 43 percent to 55 percent and fast-track benefits to family members.
Dec 18, 2024
Beagle Brigade Act of 2023 — This bill advances government transparency by requiring the Department of Agriculture to report to Congress on threats to agriculture and natural resources.
Dec 18, 2024
DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024 — This bill supports national security by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to develop better technology for detecting dangerous drugs at borders and ports of entry.
Dec 18, 2024
Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act — This bill advances Native American sovereignty and self-determination by transferring land to tribal control, supporting the civil right of indigenous peoples to govern their own territories.
Dec 17, 2024
Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023 — This bill supports Holocaust education programs by extending federal authorization and funding for educational initiatives through 2030.
Dec 17, 2024
Midnight Rules Relief Act — This bill makes it easier for Congress to overturn multiple regulations at once during presidential transitions, which could reduce executive branch accountability by allowing rapid reversal of rules without individual scrutiny.
Dec 11, 2024
Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 — This bill extends and updates federal programs that protect endangered wildlife species and their habitats through conservation funding and partnerships.
Dec 11, 2024
Increasing Baseline Updates Act — This bill would advance government transparency by requiring the Congressional Budget Office to publish more frequent budget projections and disclose the economic data behind their calculations.
Dec 10, 2024
SHIELD Against CCP Act — This bill strengthens U.S. national security by establishing a coordinated effort within the Department of Homeland Security to identify and counter security threats posed by China across multiple critical areas including terrorism, cyber attacks, and border protection.
Mar 21, 2024
Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act of 2023 — This bill strengthens national security by reducing Chinese government influence over U.S. shipping infrastructure and giving federal authorities more power to prevent foreign manipulation of maritime commerce.
Mar 21, 2024
Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy. — This bill opposes a carbon tax as economically harmful, taking a stance against a potential revenue-raising or economy-regulating tax policy.
Mar 21, 2024
Denouncing the harmful, anti-American energy policies of the Biden administration, and for other purposes. — This bill opposes environmental regulations on energy production and federal lands while promoting increased domestic fossil fuel development.
Mar 20, 2024
Restoring American Energy Dominance Act — This bill would block new environmental protections and climate provisions for oil and gas leasing on public lands, favoring fossil fuel extraction over energy transition goals.
Mar 20, 2024
Restoring American Energy Dominance Act — This bill would block new environmental protections and climate provisions for oil and gas leasing on public lands, favoring fossil fuel extraction over energy transition goals.
Mar 20, 2024
Protecting American Energy Production Act — This bill would protect fossil fuel extraction through fracking by preventing the President from restricting it without Congress approval and prioritizing state over federal environmental regulation.
Mar 20, 2024
Protecting American Energy Production Act — This bill would protect fossil fuel extraction through fracking by preventing the President from restricting it without Congress approval and prioritizing state over federal environmental regulation.
Mar 19, 2024
Condemning the illegal abduction and forcible transfer of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. — This bill strengthens the U.S. position on a major foreign conflict by formally condemning Russian actions against Ukrainian children and supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Mar 19, 2024
Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act — This bill uses sanctions to protect the stability and democracy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, advancing U.S. foreign policy interests in maintaining peace in a strategically important region.
Mar 13, 2024
Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act — This bill would restrict or ban applications controlled by foreign adversaries like China from operating in the United States to protect national security and prevent foreign surveillance of Americans.
Feb 29, 2024
Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2024 — This bill extends federal funding and authorization for airport infrastructure programs and aviation services, supporting continued public investment in transportation infrastructure.
Feb 29, 2024
Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024 — This bill authorizes federal spending to keep government operating and funds student aid programs, representing a decision to maintain current spending levels rather than make cuts or increases.
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