John,

I want to make something very clear: If Congress allows the government to shut down, it will be disastrous for millions of families across the country. And the only reason for a potential shutdown is because of a handful of extremists in Congress who are pushing damaging policies at the expense of vulnerable families and communities.

With only weeks to go until the stopgap spending bill expires, and with no Speaker of the House due to dysfunction in the Republican House Caucus, we’re demanding Congress do its job, get back to work, and avert a government shutdown. Add your name now!

The last government shutdown—from December 2018 to January 2019—was the longest in our nation’s history, lasting 35 days. If a shutdown this year is anything like that one, the consequences will be painful—and, even worse, unnecessary.

Nutrition aid in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program will stop in many areas if a shutdown lasts for more than a week. SNAP food assistance ends if a shutdown lasts more than a month. Rental assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development is funded through 2023, but if a shutdown lasts into next year, it could negatively impact contracts being renewed and could possibly lead housing programs to stop issuing new vouchers.¹

Shutdowns also hit the economy. When a federal facility shuts down, its workers spend less in the community, and the pain spreads, costing billions. But none of this has to happen.

Add your name and tell Congress: No government shutdown, again!

Together, we’re fighting to protect vulnerable people from the unnecessary pain caused by a handful of right-wing extremists who thrive on dysfunction and chaos.

Thank you for all you do,

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

¹ Potential Government Shutdown: What You Need to Know

-- DEBORAH'S EMAIL --

John,

After months of Congressional inaction―highlighted by dysfunction in the House Republican caucus―we are now just weeks away from another potential government shutdown.

Government shutdowns do one thing and one thing only: harm people—especially those with government jobs and those living paycheck to paycheck, as well as individuals who rely on government programs such as Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition aid, Head Start, and SNAP. We all suffer when food and worker safety inspections are delayed and health research is interrupted. And although Social Security and SSI/SSDI benefits will still be paid, people who are applying or trying to resolve a problem will have to wait a long time to get help.

We cannot allow our government to be held hostage by extremists who want to force draconian cuts on popular programs and push for harsh policies that criminalize vulnerable people.

Sign now to tell Congress: No government shutdown, again!

If Congress fails to do its job and pass long-term bipartisan funding bills, hundreds of thousands of government employees will be furloughed—meaning they don’t report to work and don’t get paid—or if they’re considered “essential,” they will be forced to work, but without pay.

A shutdown will also delay or interrupt services for millions of people due to certain agencies shutting down completely, or agencies that will stay open, but with a significantly smaller staff. Here are just some of the effects:¹

• The Food and Drug Administration would be unable to carry out most of its food inspection responsibilities

• No new Social Security cards will be processed and—depending how long a potential shutdown lasts—customer service for the Social Security Administration could be significantly disrupted

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections would stop

• The National Labor Relations Board’s ability to mediate labor disputes would stop

• The Environmental Protection Agency’s inspections of drinking water systems, hazardous waste sites, and others will stop

• While all Veterans Affairs medical facilities and clinics will remain open, their call centers and hotlines will not

• Immigration court hearings will be canceled, affecting tens of thousands of migrants and adding to the backlog

• 10,000 or more children could be turned away from Head Start and WIC within weeks, with additional thousands more losing access if a shutdown lasts more than a month

Forcing a government shutdown over extreme ideologies will only cause needless suffering for millions of people. We’re demanding Congress do its job and, again, avert a government shutdown. Add your name now.

Thank you for taking action today to hold Congress accountable to the American people,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ Impacts of Government Shutdowns