For ten days, Americans have been cut off from federal services they rely on and federal employees at FAA, TSA, and other agencies have been forced to work without pay. Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, yet despite their failure to pass any funding bills into law and prevent a government shutdown, House Republicans left Washington on September 19th  and haven’t returned for work. Today, Speaker Johnson cancelled House votes previously scheduled for next week.  Meanwhile, I’ll be back in Washington next week as I’ve been during the past two weeks with my Democratic colleagues working to end the government shutdown and prevent Republicans' health care crisis from getting worse for American families.   

Just a few months ago, Republicans wasted no time in passing Trump’s Big Ugly Law that makes massive tax breaks permanent for millionaires and billionaires.  Their Big Ugly Law also takes away health care for millions of Americans by cutting nearly $1 TRILLION from Medicaid and allows tax credits to expire for middle class and working families who depend on them to be able to afford their health care.   As a result, thousands of Minnesotans and millions of Americans across the country are receiving notices of massive premium increases. In many cases, premiums are doubling for working families.

Rather than address the crisis they created, Republicans chose to shut down the government, because they refuse to work with Democrats to lower costs and reduce the impact of the health care crisis they created.

Democrats have offered a plan to stop the crisis.  Our budget will lower health care costs right away, protect affordable coverage for Minnesotans and millions of Americans, and ensure that we invest in the lifesaving cures of the future.  As Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has said repeatedly, Democrats are willing to meet anywhere and anytime to negotiate a bipartisan government funding agreement that meets the needs of the American people, open the government open and prevent Americans' health care costs from soaring. But where are House Republicans?

It's time for President Trump and Republicans to show up and go to work for the American people

 

As Republicans Keep House in Recess, Democratic Steering & Policy Committee Holds Hearing on the Republican Health Care Crisis
On Wednesday, I testified at a hearing held by the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on the Republican health care crisis.  Their Big Ugly Law makes tax breaks permanent for millionaires and billionaires, but strips away health care from millions of Americans and allows tax credits for middle class families to expire, causing premiums to spike for millions more. Republicans started by cutting Medicaid. It's the largest cut in history to Medicaid, hurting people with disabilities, children with disabilities, and seniors. If that wasn't bad enough, they targeted Medicare and decimated cancer research. To make matters worse, Republicans defunded Planned Parenthood, further reducing health care options for Americans at a time when community health centers are already facing closures due to the Republicans' Big Ugly Law.

During my testimony, I highlighted the story of Justin Smith, a 27-year-old writer, blogger, and disability rights advocate who recently participated in a recent listening session I hosted in Saint Paul. As a person living with cerebral palsy, Justin relies on federal services to live his best life, including Social Security Income Benefits and Medicaid. 

“My life, as I’m currently living it, that I’ve worked so hard at pulling together over the past 9 years, feels as if it could implode,” Justin told me during our listening session.

 

 

He and millions of Americans are worried about losing access to Medicaid, which was cut by nearly a trillion dollars by Republicans. Medicaid – and Medicaid alone – pays for Justin’s medical care, medical equipment, staffing, and more. This means Justin is able to have the things we take for granted, like access to a communication device that allows him to speak, a proper wheelchair that allows him to move through the world comfortably, and even things like an adapted shower and toilet so that he may live in dignity. In Justin’s own words: Living with a disability is expensive. All three items I just mentioned would cost Justin and his family upwards of $49,000. Right now, all of these are covered through Medicaid, which sadly means that all of this is at risk because of President Trump and Republicans in Congress.

I ask Republicans: What happens to Americans like Justin when this funding is taken away? What happens when his parents can no longer look after him? And what about those who don’t have a support system in the first place? Minnesotans are calling my office asking what will happen to people like Justin. The amount of stress, confusion, and defeat being felt by Justin and others who rely on Medicaid is palpable and unacceptable. Minnesotans are rightly worried about President Trump's cuts to Medicaid. 

Education Minnesota Leaders Visit Washington to Discuss Consequences of Big Ugly Law 
Our nation’s public schools are yet another victim of the ugly consequences of Trump’s Big Ugly Law. Millions of students and school staff could lose their healthcare, and the funding that schools get to provide therapy and food assistance is at risk due to Medicaid and SNAP cuts. Education Minnesota was on the Hill this week to fight for the funding that Minnesota’s students and communities need. NEA Director Jasman Myers and Retired Director Judy Rhode visited with my senior staff about meeting our federal commitment to fund services for special education students, pushing back against cuts to the Department of Education, and supporting the educators and paraprofessionals who help students to learn and grow.

 

Just over two years since the October 7 attack, peace in Gaza and Israel may finally be on the horizon. This initial outline of a ceasefire agreement is a first step in a long and arduous process of ensuring peace and stability in the region, and a long-awaited reprieve for the civilians in Israel and Gaza. When I first called for a ceasefire on October 17, 2023, I said that a lasting ceasefire requires international agreement. Now that American, Turkish, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators have reached this initial agreement, the difficult work begins as they work together to reach a deal that results in the release of all remaining hostages, the permanent withdrawal of Israeli forces, and an end of Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza. 

Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live in peace. Now, it is time to rebuild Gaza. The international community must rush as much aid as possible to Gaza as quickly as possible, and the U.S. must continue to work with our partners in the region to rapidly bring this war to a close. It is my hope that as we seize this moment of peace, the rebuilding effort focus on the needs of the people of Gaza and respects the sovereignty of the people of the West Bank. The Palestinian people must have a clear path to achieve freedom and statehood.

In war, the wounds sustained by the innocent take the longest to heal. This agreement marks a new day in this conflict, but our work is far from over. The hope of lasting peace can only be realized through cooperation, courage, and commitment to peace. Today, I am thinking of the families who are embracing their formerly captive relatives, those receiving the remains of their deceased relatives, and those who are mourning the loss of their friends, family, and ancestral homes.

 

 

 

I spoke with KARE 11 News this week about President Trump’s cancellation of $600 million in federal energy grants for Minnesota — grants to create a safer, more effective, more resilient energy grid. The administration's decision to cancel these grants has nothing to do with the government shutdown — this is a punitive, harmful, childish action to retaliate against states that voted against President Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

 

Local Small Business Owners Share Impacts of Republican Health Care Crisis
This morning, I heard from Saint Paul small business owners who are facing premium spikes and other negative impacts from the Republican’s Big Ugly Law. They urged Republicans to work with Democrats to urgently address this crisis and reopen the federal government.

 

I am grateful to Dan Marshall, owner of Mischief Toys; Lauren Gaffney, owner of Mastel’s Health Foods’ and Laura Kressin, an independent IT contractor, for sharing their stories of how they will be impacted by the Republican health care crisis.  With 22 million Americans relying on ACA tax credits to make their health care more affordable, thousands of Minnesotans can expect to pay an average of $180 more each month, or $2,160 per year, and my constituents are telling me they simply cannot afford this kind of increase. 

 

Medicare Open Enrollment Begins Next Week
Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2025 and runs through December 7th, 2025. As you sign up for a plan, prepare for sticker shock due to major cost increases caused by the Big Ugly Law. Plans change, as do health needs, so it is important for Medicare beneficiaries to compare their 2026 plan options. Visit Medicare.gov, call Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly the Senior LinkAge Line) at 1-800-333-2433, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for free assistance.