1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I’m writing to thank you for your steadfast leadership during the current federal shutdown. I know how difficult it must be to negotiate under such pressure—balancing the need to keep government functioning, uphold affordable healthcare, protect food-security programs, and defend the integrity of our democratic norms. It’s alarming to consider what’s at stake: as reports show, if funding isn’t restored soon, programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may run out of support in November, placing millions of people at risk. Your efforts to keep the dialogue open and the government funding priorities alive do not go unnoticed. In particular I appreciate your work to spotlight the human cost of a shutdown (for example rising healthcare costs and halted benefits) and to push back when power is being concentrated in unaccountable hands. I ask you to continue: — prioritizing efforts to reopen the government swiftly so that SNAP, healthcare, and other supports reach people without further interruption; — protecting access to affordable healthcare for Washingtonians and beyond; — resisting efforts that erode checks and balances or concentrate power unfairly; — and standing ready to work across the aisle, even when others walk away. Thank you again for your service. Please know that I’m watching, appreciative, and hopeful that you will continue to hold the line.