|
Dear Friend,
It's Joe Courtney.
The government has entered a shutdown because Congress and the White House failed to reach a bipartisan agreement to fund the government. Federal agencies are now operating in a diminished capacity.
I'm urging a bipartisan compromise to end this needless shutdown with a truly clean bill that funds the government and prevents a health care cost-hike by maintaining longstanding Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Tomorrow (10/8) at 6:30PM, I'm holding a live telephone town hall to hear how the shutdown is impacting the people of Connecticut's Second District. I will also share an update on the clear middle ground to re-open the government.
Sign up at courtney.house.gov/live.
While Republicans control the White House and hold majorities in the House and the Senate, tight margins and the rules of Congress require both parties to work together to pass a funding bill.
This week, House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled previously scheduled "in-session" days for the House of Representatives.
That makes it three straight weeks that the House will be out of session, which is unacceptable. To resolve this impasse, the members should at a bare minimum be convened.
Connecticut’s Second District is home to more federal workers than any other Congressional District in our state, including nearly 8,000 Navy sailors and officers at Sub Base New London.
Refusal to even come to Washington to try to prevent a shutdown is an insult to the workers and their families who show up for work when called on.
The clear middle ground to end this shutdown is with a clean bill which funds the government and prevents the looming hike on health care costs that are coming next year.
The cost of health care is the biggest single drain on American’s budgets. If Congress fails to maintain Affordable Care Act tax credits, 22,000 people in Connecticut’s Second District will see their 2026 premiums skyrocket, according to Access Health CT. This is not an issue Congress can wait to address. Connecticut residents will receive notices of premium increases in a matter of days, and enrollment begins on November 1st.
That’s unacceptable. 78% of Americans support extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits, according to KFF. That is clear, bipartisan support for addressing this crisis.
During this shutdown, my office remains open and ready to assist Second District residents with questions about the impacts on federal employees and government services.
Constituents can call my office at 860-886-0139 and visit courtney.house.gov/shutdown for answers to frequently asked questions about a government shutdown.
I hope you will join my town hall, and I encourage you to share how a government shutdown is impacting you.
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
|
