1. United States
2. Neb.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my profound frustration regarding the extended government shutdown, which has moved far past a political dispute and deep into the realm of the ludicrous. The failure to negotiate a resolution is now inflicting concrete, measurable harm on our neighbors, families, farmers, and small-business owners across Nebraska. The impacts are immediate and devastating: • Food Security Crisis: The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is currently unable to issue approximately $27 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November. This failure jeopardizes the food security of tens of thousands of Nebraskans—including children, seniors, and working families—who rely on this critical assistance. • Skyrocketing Health Costs: The proposed solution to reopen the government includes extending enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits. Without this extension, over 135,000 Nebraskans who rely on the Marketplace for health coverage—many of whom are farmers, ranchers, and small-business owners—will see their monthly premiums skyrocket. For some older, rural Nebraskans, premiums could jump by over 400%, making essential health insurance entirely unaffordable and potentially forcing thousands to lose coverage. • Air Travel Chaos: The national FAA order to cut air traffic—due to the financial strain on air traffic controllers and other essential personnel working without pay—is leading to widespread delays and cancellations that negatively affect the ability of Nebraskans to travel for business, military service, and family emergencies. I urge you to consider the immense burden this stalemate places directly on your constituents. The proposal to re-open the government now while simultaneously extending affordable health insurance premiums for vulnerable populations is not only reasonable but necessary to prevent a financial and health crisis in our state. Please put the needs of Nebraska first.