Dear John,

I wanted to contact you about a potential federal government shutdown and my ongoing work to protect vital services. Unfortunately, extreme conservatives in the House of Representatives are trying to further their far-right ideological agenda by shutting down the government on October 1.

I am working hard right now to keep critical services that working families rely on up and running. Cancer research, Head Start, Meals on Wheels, and pay for our troops are far too important for political games.

I am ready to work with anyone, Republican or Democrat, to prevent a shutdown and to protect these vital programs.

But, if extreme conservatives continue down this reckless path without seeking bipartisan cooperation, I want you to know what you can expect.

Economic forecasters predict a shutdown will slow economic growth, jeopardizing the more than 13.5 million jobs* created over the last two years. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will be unable to process some mortgage loans and the Small Business Administration (SBA) will be unable to serve business owners in our community.

Service members, federal law enforcement, and Border Patrol will remain on the job–but will be forced to work without being paid. Women and children receiving food assistance through WIC will lose access to benefits. Disaster relief and environmental protection will be stalled. Even food inspections, to keep our meat and produce safe, will be slowed down. Some agencies will be shuttered entirely, with serious effects for people who rely on them.

My staff and I will continue working on your behalf and will remain available to assist you as usual–although we may not be able to get answers from federal agencies that have been shuttered.

To help you plan for a possible federal government shutdown, my team and I have prepared answers to frequently asked questions which you can view here.

To receive further updates, please subscribe to my newsletter. In the meantime, be sure to check in regularly with our website and social media pages (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) for updates.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell

* Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics