1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I’m writing to express my concerns about the ongoing federal government shutdown and the impacts on everyday Americans. My mother is a disabled senior on Social Security and Medicare, who thankfully receives food assistance from SNAP. She lives in San Diego, CA and is one of your constituents too. We have been notified that November SNAP benefits will not be disbursed if the government remains shut down. I work at the VA and I have many patients who are federal employees or are married to active-duty military, who are not getting paid, and they don’t know how they will make rent or buy groceries this month. Congress is playing games and Speaker Johnson is refusing to do any House business, and it appears to folks like me that we are making zero progress on getting a budget so that the government can function. I stand with Democrats who are holding strong to protect health care and the ACA - but I condemn Mike Johnson and others who are dragging this out for political gain and hurting everyday Americans.