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Greetings,
I hope this message finds you well. As your U.S. Representative for Georgia’s Thirteenth Congressional District, I am focused on protecting access to fast and affordable healthcare, strengthening financial support for families, ensuring our farmers have the resources they need to succeed, and most importantly, reopening the federal government.
Government Shutdown
While Republicans continue to force a reckless government shutdown, I want to provide some clarity into what will and will not be affected during this period. Thousands of federal workers will be furloughed, and many agency operations will be disrupted. However, my congressional offices in Washington D.C. and Stockbridge will remain open and available to help with constituent services; do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions, comments, or concerns.
Please know that Social Security is considered a mandatory program and will not be impacted by the government shutdown—payments will go out as usual. Similarly, Medicare and Medicaid benefits should continue without interruption, although there may be some delays in benefit verification or with issuing new cards. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are also not expected to be immediately disrupted though that could change depending on the length of the shutdown. Congress can, and should, ensure that those who rely on programs such as SNAP continue to receive benefits during a government shutdown. That is why I led my colleagues in requesting the House Appropriations Committee include advanced funding for the first three months of the 2026 fiscal year to ensure SNAP benefits would not be interrupted in a shutdown. This year, I was grateful to be joined by more than 125 Democrats in requesting this funding.
While I am encouraged that many of these essential programs will continue with limited disruption, make no mistake: this Republican shutdown will have serious consequences. Government shutdowns are costly, bad for the economy, and create financial hardship for millions of Americans. Democrats are in Washington working to stop these reckless funding cuts, lower costs, and most importantly, reopen the government. Meanwhile, Republicans have cancelled votes, left town, and chosen to keep the government shut rather than address the crisis they have created for the American people. VIEW SHUTDOWN FAQS HERE.
Here are some highlights from the past month:
19th Annual Health Fair
Last month I hosted our district’s annual health fair where members of the community received free health services, including exams for breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, as well as vision and dental screenings. This year, we partnered with 35 healthcare providers from across Atlanta to ensure every constituent who attended was able to receive the best care possible. Thank you to all the doctors, nurses, volunteers, and community leaders that made this event successful once again. I hope to see you next year!
Expanding Healthcare Research
This month I introduced the Endometrial Cancer Research and Education Act, a bill to expand federal research and education efforts on endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer is the most common form of uterine cancer and one of the most common forms of cancer in women, especially African American women. Specifically, my bill directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to increase research into endometrial cancer, with a focus on addressing racial disparities. It will also require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen education efforts that will bring us one step closer to understanding this disease, finding cures, and improving treatments. Together, we can ensure women’s health remains a federal priority. Read More HERE.
Protecting Immigrant Communities
The recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at the Hyundai battery plant in Georgia was deeply alarming. It shows the lengths President Trump is willing to go to in order to attack hard-working migrant communities in our state. That is why I cosigned a joint statement with over 20 members of Congress from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and Georgia Delegation demanding the administration uphold due process for the hundreds of workers impacted. Reports of American citizens and lawful permanent residents—many of Korean descent—being part of those detained, raises serious questions about ICE’s aggressive effort to crack down on immigration enforcement as a way to meet largely arbitrary arrest targets. As I have said before, targeting hard-working immigrants instead of violent criminals hurts our economy, undermines trust in our global partners and worse of all, breaks families apart. Read More HERE
Strengthening Access to Credit
As a senior member on the House Financial Services Committee, I am fighting to stop the Trump Administration from eliminating more than $300 million from the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. This month, I met with the Georgia Credit Unions Association who represent hundreds of credit unions and advocate for 2.8 million members across our state. We discussed the importance of expanding credit access in minority, rural, and low-income communities. I remain committed to ensuring credit unions have the tools, flexibility, and resources to best serve the families and small businesses who reside in the thirteenth district.
Expanding Market Access for Struggling Farmers
During a recent House Agriculture Committee hearing, I highlighted the damage President Trump’s ongoing trade war is having on Georgia’s specialty crop famers and the need of finding new markets. In GA-13, 95% of our farmers are family owned. However, these farms are struggling to stay competitive due to reciprocal tariffs on American produce. One of the ways Congress can help these farmers remain competitive is by expanding public-private partnerships. In this, our district is leading by example. Gwinnett County Public Schools successfully partnered with Georgia blueberry producers to incorporate more blueberries into school meals, improving nutrition for students and increasing business for specialty crop farmers. I am working to expand these partnerships, demand an end to the President’s crippling trade, and ensure Georgia specialty crop producers can be competitive both domestically and internationally. View More HERE.
Addressing Rural Challenges
During a recent House Agricultural Subcommittee hearing, I highlighted the importance of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Programs. USDA Rural Development is the only federal agency that focuses solely on rural communities. This administration’s firing of federal workers and deferred resignation programs have impacted 15,000 USDA employees and increased the barriers that communities face when applying for these essential grants. My questions focused on reducing barriers for farmers, how the loss of experienced staff leads to inefficient use of federal dollars, and how farmers have been impacted. View More HERE.
2025 Congressional App Challenge
The U.S. House of Representatives is hosting the annual Congressional App Challenge for middle and high school students. These district-wide challenges encourage students to learn to code and have inspired many participants to pursue careers in computer science. The 2025 competition deadline is October 30th, 2025 at 12pm EST. Register HERE.
Thank you for staying in touch with me, and I look forward to continuing to serve you and your family. As always, feel free to call on me and my staff in Stockbridge and DC. Learn more at www.DavidScott.House.gov and follow me on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
David Scott
Member of Congress
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