Last week, Senate Democrats — under the leadership of Chuck Schumer — voted to shut down the government.

As I shared with you in my last newsletter, House Republicans passed a short-term spending measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), on September 19th. Only one House Democrat joined us in voting to keep the government open and funded. As a reminder, it takes 60 votes in the Senate to invoke cloture and overcome a filibuster so a bill can receive an up or down vote on the Senate floor. Therefore, we need at least 7 Senate Democrats to join our 53 Senate Republicans to end debate and allow the CR to receive a final vote on the floor. Only three Senate Democrats have voted yes thus far.

Keep in mind, the reason Democrats are holding the government hostage is because they’re demanding that Republicans add their $1.5 trillion liberal wish list of additional spending to the clean, bipartisan CR. Whether it's providing health care to illegal aliens or extending COVID-era Obamacare subsidies, Democrats’ radical demands are non-starters.

At this point, we’re still waiting for Democrats to vote yes so we can reopen the government.

Notably, the Left’s foolish partisan funding fight is delivering some fiscally responsible wins for the American people. OMB Director Russ Vought and President Trump are identifying ways to save taxpayer dollars amidst the Schumer Shutdown. Over the past few days, the Trump Administration has announced actions to downsize our bloated federal agencies and cut wasteful spending, including billions of dollars in Green New Scam funds.

Excellent! Since Democrats have shut down the government — we must use this opportunity to shrink the government.

As we wait for additional developments in the Schumer Shutdown, please know that both my Washington, D.C. and Gainesville District Offices are open and operating. My team is here to serve you, so please don’t hesitate to contact them if you have any comments, questions, or concerns. While most federal services, such as Social Security payments and VA benefits, will continue during the shutdown, there may be delays or longer wait times. If you need help with a federal agency at any time, please call my Gainesville District Office at 470-768-6520.

I want to hear from you!

Last Week's Results:

83% believe Democrats are to blame for the government shutdown.

As you know, I worked diligently on and proudly voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), which was signed into law by President Trump on July 4th. Due to my hard-fought efforts, this monumental law delivers the most significant legislative win for our Second Amendment freedoms in decades.

Budget reconciliation provides us a rare, filibuster-proof opportunity to secure major victories for the American people. That’s why throughout OBBB negotiations, I fought to restore our Second Amendment rights. Specifically, I secured a measure to zero out the $200 tax on suppressors and short-barreled firearms under the draconian National Firearms Act (NFA). This tax had been on the books for over nine decades — since 1934, representing an unconstitutional and financial barrier to our Second Amendment freedoms. Yet starting January 1st, 2026, you will no longer be subjected to this unnecessary NFA taxation.

The Constitution clearly states that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall NOT be infringed. I am proud to have cast my vote to make that right more accessible to the American people, and I remain committed to further restoring our Second Amendment liberties through my work in Congress.

Purpose Church at Bethel Temple in Demorest will hold its monthly car show, Cruise-In With Purpose, on October 10th at Pitts Park in Clarkesville. The event, which features 50 to 70 cars along with food and live music, has become one of Habersham County’s most wholesome traditions. Cruise-In With Purpose brings together local sponsors, church members, and volunteers to benefit community members in need. In fact, since the event started in March, the car show has raised more than $25,000. Every penny of that money has been donated to the benefit of local community members and those in need, including folks in North Carolina still hurting from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Events like this demonstrate why our District is so special, representing a shining example of the American spirit. I applaud all involved in this wonderful event, and I encourage you and your family to pay the Cruise-In With Purpose a visit. 

This week, I’ll continue meeting with constituents and local organizations in the Ninth District. For regular updates on the week ahead — especially on the ongoing Schumer Shutdown, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Gettr, and X. Have a blessed week!