On Tuesday at midnight, Republicans shut down the government.

When Republicans rammed their Big, Ugly Bill through Congress, voting to cut health care for 15 million people, they set in motion a health care crisis. Because they control the House, Senate, and White House, they were able to force their own agenda through, without pausing for the consequences to millions.

Now, benefits are set to expire, clinics and hospitals are set to close, and millions of people will have to pay much, much more for healthcare.

Democrats have been demanding Republicans keep the government open and work with us to pass a budget that saves health care for millions of people.

Simple as that.

But instead of working with Democrats to do their job, fund the government, and address the healthcare crisis they created — Republicans are cheering for a government shutdown, and pushing a terrible bill that forces healthcare further out of reach for our families.

This is as cruel and unnecessary as it is preventable.

This is so much bigger than politics. It's simply about being a person of conscience and showing up for the people who sent you to represent them.

I want to talk about what this shutdown and this health care crisis really means. Not in headlines or talking points — but what that means for people’s lives and livelihoods.

We are talking about families seeing such high increases in their health care costs — some more than double — that they will simply have to go without insurance coverage.

We are talking about people losing their coverage entirely. Skipping out on meals in order to afford lifesaving drugs like insulin. Going bankrupt to keep a member of their family alive.

Republicans shut down the government because they want to make our families poorer, sicker, hungrier, and more vulnerable. And we won’t be complicit. As duly elected Members of Congress, it is not only our duty, but our obligation, to make life better for the people we serve.

Donald Trump doesn’t know what it’s like to be a parent sitting in the parking lot of an emergency room waiting to see if their child’s fever is too severe to manage.

Donald Trump doesn’t know what it’s like to scramble to get the formula your baby needs.

But Democrats give a damn.

My shoulders and my heart feel heavy because of what this Republican shutdown will bring.

Federal workers and contractors could miss paychecks. Evictions could rise. Seniors could go without assistance from federal agencies. Relief from natural disasters could be delayed.

I will continue to fight to reopen the government, keep essential services running, mitigate the Republican-caused healthcare crisis, and center the dignity, humanity, and safety of folks in the Massachusetts’ 7th and across the country.

To every family in my district and across our nation who will be impacted by this, know this: I see you, I’m fighting for you, and I will not give up.

Ayanna