1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

The people have voted, but Congress still has a responsibility to govern. Election results do not excuse inaction, gridlock or another shutdown. Whether you won or lost, your duty continues until your term ends. Enough is enough. As your constituent, I demand that Democrats and Republicans work together to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) maintaining FY2026 funding levels while completing FY2027 appropriations. If a full-year agreement is not ready, keep the government open while negotiations continue. Americans should not pay for Congress’s failure to agree. Shutdowns waste taxpayer dollars, interrupt services, delay research and impose financial hardship on federal workers. With housing, groceries, health care and child care already expensive, missed paychecks and furloughs can be devastating. Public servants have families and bills to pay. They deserve stability. I urge you to: Pass a clean CR without unrelated policy provisions and prevent another shutdown. Protect federal workers and civil service rights. Reject further reductions in force, unnecessary cuts and actions undermining employee protections across CDC, HHS and the federal government. Protect CDC funding. Maintain at least FY2026 funding levels and preserve funding lines for birth defects prevention, infant health, folic acid activities and other essential programs. Preserve public health capabilities. Protect disease surveillance, laboratories, scientific research, health communications and emergency preparedness. Strengthen oversight. Ensure reorganizations and personnel actions safeguard congressionally authorized programs, scientific expertise and civil service protections. Protect federal research. Ensure stable, transparent, evidence-based funding and grant administration without unnecessary disruption. Public health threats do not wait for Congress. Outbreaks, emerging threats and chronic health challenges demand a capable CDC and public health workforce. Cutting prevention and preparedness can shift costs to more expensive emergency responses and health care. Dismantling expertise only to rebuild it later wastes taxpayer money. The election is over, but your responsibility is not. Whether you return in January or leave office, serve the full term voters entrusted to you. Congress must face accountability for repeated funding failures. Members should not continue collecting pay while federal employees and families suffer during preventable shutdowns. I support lawful measures to hold lawmakers financially accountable. Americans deserve a functioning government, reliable services and responsible stewardship of tax dollars, not another shutdown, more federal firings or weakened public health protections. Do your jobs. Work together. Pass a clean CR. Protect federal workers, CDC and public health. Keep the government open. Public service demands accountability, and Americans deserve nothing less. Thank you for your service.