I wanted to make sure you saw Deborah’s email from yesterday, as every day we’re getting closer to a federal government shutdown.

It doesn’t have to happen.

If it weren’t for unreasonable demands coming from a handful of extremists in Congress—and their colleagues who are too willing to accommodate their demands—a funding bill could have been passed and we wouldn’t be stuck in this hostage situation.

Instead, we are about to see a stop to food and workplace inspections, 10,000 children losing access to Head Start, and a stoppage in water and chemical testing. While Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and Veterans Affairs will continue to pay benefits, portions of their staff will be furloughed, causing delays in service and a backlog in applications.[1]

This is completely unacceptable. Americans deserve a government that works for us, not one that causes needless pain and suffering. Join us in calling on Congress to work together and do everything in their power to avoid a government shutdown while also rejecting severe cuts to critical services for low-income families.

Thanks for all you do,

Meredith Dodson
Senior Director of Public Policy, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ Would a government shutdown impact Social Security, VA benefits?

-- DEBORAH'S EMAIL --

John,

The role of a government is to institute laws and policies that benefit its citizens, always putting the common good above all else. Well that’s exactly what is not happening in the United States Congress.

Each day that goes by, with House Republicans demanding outrageous cuts and funding for their pet projects like a border wall, is a day that this country gets closer and closer to a shutdown. If Congress doesn’t pass a government funding measure by midnight on September 30th—the end of the fiscal year—the federal government will run out of money and much of it will be forced to shut down, throwing our economy into chaos.

The effects of a government shutdown will be felt at every level of society. Send a direct message to Congress, demanding they do their job and avert a government shutdown.

If the federal government shuts down on October 1st, it has the potential to be one of the largest and most devastating shutdowns in our nations’ history. The 2018-2019 shutdown—the longest in U.S. history at 35 days—saw 800,000 federal workers furloughed without pay and cost the U.S. economy $11 billion.^1,2 If the government were to shut down this year, it could affect as many as 4 million workers.

What would happen if the government shuts down on October 1?:³

• 10,000 children could immediately lose access to Head Start.

• EPA-led inspections at hazardous waste sites and drinking water and chemical facilities would stop. Efforts to address contaminants would be delayed and cleanup at Superfund sites would significantly slow down, or stop entirely.

• The Food and Drug Administration would delay food inspections.

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would delay workplace inspections and investigations by the Department of Labor would be suspended.

• Active duty military personnel would be forced to work without pay.

The American public deserves better governance than what we’re seeing play out in Congress. The consequences of a government shutdown would be devastating to millions of families and communities—and it’s all avoidable.

Contact Congress today and tell them to put the American people first and pass a funding bill to avert a government shutdown.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ US government shutdown: what does it mean?
² The Effects of the Partial Shutdown
³ Extreme House Republicans’ Chaos Is Marching Us Toward a Government Shutdown