Due to Senate Democrats blocking the House’s clean, short-term funding bill, the federal government shutdown is headed into its third week next week. 

This means essential services are stalling, veterans are facing challenges getting health care, and active duty servicemembers are being forced to defend our freedoms without the certainty of a paycheck. 

Last week, Senator Schumer said, "every day gets better for us.” Meanwhile, every day is getting worse for military families and hundreds of thousands of Americans who have been furloughed or are working without pay. 

I remain ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to tackle the challenges in front of us. However, the livelihoods of hardworking Americans cannot be used as bargaining chips to gain political leverage.

Here is where we stand.

The math is simple, and Senate Democrats must support reopening the government immediately for the sake of hardworking Americans in Central Washington, and across the country. 

After spending last week in Washington D.C., I visited Klickitat County to see the burn scar from the Burdoin Fire that consumed over 10,000 acres this summer. 

There I heard from local leaders, residents, and small businesses owners about the impact of the fire and the recovery efforts underway.

I send my thanks to the first responders who worked to contain the fire, and to the Lyle community who are still working to aid those who tragically lost their homes and businesses. 

This week I also stopped in to speak with the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments about the ongoing government shutdown.

Small businesses, farmers, and veterans are starting to feel the strain of the shutdown, but I am working to make sure taxpayers in Central Washington get the help they need.