Dear Friends,

Today is day 10 of the Republican government shutdown—already the fourth longest shutdown in U.S. history—and Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to call the House back into session to address the critical needs of everyday Americans or swear in newly elected Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07).

Across North Carolina, families have started receiving notices from their health insurance companies with massive premium increases in 2026. That’s because the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits are set to expire soon unless Congress works to extend them. This issue cannot wait.

If the premium tax credits expire, a family of four in my district earning $64,000 a year would pay over $2,500 more annually for the same health insurance, and right now, there are 880,000 North Carolinians who use these credits to afford health insurance.

The people of North Carolina are counting on us to reopen the government and protect their healthcare, and while Democrats are working hard to pass a bipartisan bill, House Republicans won’t even show up to work.

While our federal workers, including almost 7,000 in our district, go without pay, House Republicans have been on a 19-day paid vacation. It’s unacceptable.

I want you to know that I am continuing to work hard to pass a bill that reopens the government and prevents health insurance premiums from skyrocketing for 88,000 of my constituents. This is about people over politics, and it’s about time Congress actually serves the people it represents.

On Wednesday, October 8, I was proud to host my “Healthcare Matters” webinar, bringing together healthcare experts in North Carolina to discuss the impacts the government shutdown and attacks on healthcare are having on the health of our Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community.

The webinar also gave an opportunity for community members to have their healthcare questions answered by this panel of experts.

Thank you again to Dr. Doug Robinson, Dr. Charlene Green, Ms. Debra Weeks, and her incredible team at C.W. Williams Community Health Center for serving as speakers for this webinar.

If you weren’t able to attend, or would like to rewatch the webinar, you can find a recording of the webinar here.

Rep. Adams speaks at a CLT airport workers rally on April 22, 2025

Despite the baseless threats made by the White House, federal law is clear—all furloughed federal employees receive backpay once the government shutdown ends. This law was signed by President Trump in 2019, and it should worry our country that the president can’t remember the policies he helped create.

Rather than trying to hold our federal workers hostage, there’s a simpler solution. Speaker Mike Johnson needs to end House Republicans’ paid vacation, return to Washington, and meet Democrats at the bargaining table so we can pass a bipartisan bill that reopens the government and protects affordable healthcare for everyone.

We also must do more to protect all our federal workers during a government shutdown. That’s why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 5657 which provides backpay for federal contractors, the Pay our Troops Act which ensures military personnel are paid during a shutdown, and the Federal Worker Childcare Protection Act which ensures all federal employees are eligible to be reimbursed for childcare expenses incurred during a shutdown.

Rep. Adams with April Ryan during the Tuesday, October 2, 2025 interview on The Tea

On Thursday, October 2, I joined The Tea with April Ryan for an in-depth discussion on how the Republican government shutdown is impacting North Carolina, including our education, healthcare, agriculture, and economy.

You can watch the full interview here.

My office is hiring a District Administrative Assistant and a District Staff Assistant based out of our Charlotte District Office.

We are looking for two talented, dedicated community servants to work in my office and help serve the people of North Carolina's 12th Congressional District.

You can find the job postings below:

• District Administrative Assistant
• District Staff Assistant

My office is proud to announce our participation in this year’s Congressional App Challenge. This spirited competition provides an opportunity for students to learn how to code. It also encourages students to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) while promoting innovation and engagement in computer science. 

The Congressional App Challenge allows students to compete against their peers by creating an app of their choice for mobile, tablet, or computer devices. No background or experience in computer science is needed.

The deadline to register and submit a completed application is before 12:00 PM Eastern Time on October 30, 2025.

To learn more, click the link below.

Republicans may have abandoned the American people, but my office is ready to fight for Charlotteans who are hurting from the GOP government shutdown.

Whether you’re a mother struggling to get WIC for your family, a senior who needs help with Social Security, a veteran unable to access your VA benefits, a federal worker who has been furloughed or fired, or anyone else impacted by the shutdown, I am here to help.

Please reach out to my Charlotte or DC office and my staff will be happy to assist you however they can. My Charlotte office can be reached at (704) 344-9950 and my DC office can be reached at (202) 225-1510.