Dear john,

As of midnight, the federal government is shut down after House Republicans failed to pass a bipartisan funding bill. I have been in D.C. ready to continue my work to secure funding that doesn't cut health care coverage and raise costs on hardworking Americans. As that work continues, you may have questions about how a federal government shutdown will impact you directly. I have compiled a list of resources and commonly asked questions, which you can view at mcbath.house.gov/government-shutdown-information. Additionally, listed below are just a few of the highly anticipated questions that may be relevant to you and your family.

Can I still submit casework requests to your office?
- My office will continue to accept new casework and my casework team will continue to pursue inquiries on behalf of new and existing casework. We may, however, experience delays in response due to many federal agency staff being furloughed. My casework team remains available to answer any questions you may have at this time.
Will services like my mail or commercial air travel be impacted?
- The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a government shutdown. Air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration officers, and Customs and Border Protection agents will remain on the job, however, like all federal employees, they will not be paid until the shutdown is over.
Will I continue to receive federal benefits (Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Affairs) during the shutdown?
- Military and federal retirees will continue to receive their retirement benefits, and Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance should remain unaffected by this shutdown. In addition, all Veterans Affairs medical facilities and clinics will remain operational.

In addition, I am deeply concerned about the Trump Administration's threat to needlessly fire thousands of federal workers during a shutdown. This is a continued attack on civil service employees, many of whom live and work in our district. We cannot afford this shutdown to be prolonged any further.

If you have any questions or concerns about this government shutdown or any federal issue, please continue to call my office. It is my honor to serve you in Congress.