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Dear John,
Starting today, we have 14 days to avoid a government shutdown. Yet, my Republican colleagues in the House either don’t seem to understand or do not care about Americans' real-life repercussions when our government is forced to stop non-essential work. Instead, they’re spreading propaganda supporting a shutdown – claiming it won’t impact the American people.
They are dead wrong.
When the government has to shut down due to Congress’s inability to pass a budget on time, approximately 25% of annual federal spending is paused. This means:
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Government employees lose their paychecks: Some are sent home while others remain at work, all without pay until the government reopens.
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Government programs are paused: New enrollments are paused for small business loans, SNAP, Medicare, and Social Security, all programs that support everyday Americans’ bottom lines.
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National Parks close: As they turn away visitors, they will lose hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and risk damage as some visitors still decide to attempt to enter the parks.
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Enrollments in federally-funded clinical trials are paused: Endangering the health and lives of people relying on these medical treatments.
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FDA and EPA health Inspections are paused: Risking the health and safety of the general public.
So, when a GOP House member says, “We should not fear a government shutdown,” know that they are only saying that to advance their right-wing agenda for our budget – an agenda that cuts funding from LGBTQ Community Centers, bans and limits abortion care for many, and that wants to restrict further which families are eligible for food support.
We need a House leadership that respects the needs of the American people – not one that ignores them.
We must elect a Democratic majority to the House in 2024 to regain control of our budget process and government operations.
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