Dear john,

The federal government has been shut down for a full month now, and essential workers are once again missing their paychecks. More painful deadlines are coming up. November 1st is the first day of Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace. Due to the failure of my Republican colleagues to negotiate a bipartisan compromise, those who shop for insurance on the ACA Marketplace will log on tomorrow to see their premiums have skyrocketed for 2026. There is still time to address this health care crisis, but we must be called into session by Speaker Johnson in order to continue our work on behalf of the American people.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Georgia will pause on Saturday, impacting 1.6 million residents across the state. I have asked Governor Kemp to take action by tapping into state reserves to ensure that there are no interruptions to food assistance for Georgians, and I have also urged Secretary Brooke Rollings at USDA to use SNAP's contingency reserve to fund November benefits. Congress should be working around the clock to negotiate an end to this shutdown—there is no good reason the House has been out of session since mid September.

Before heading to Washington this week, I joined the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and my friend and colleague Congressman Hank Johnson to speak with residents and members of the press about the ongoing impact this shutdown is having on our state. Our message was simple—we need a bipartisan compromise to fund the government, cancel devastating cuts to key federal programs which care for some of our most vulnerable citizens, and save the American people’s health care. I thank Senator Nikki Merritt, Chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, for convening such an important conversation.

Congresswoman Lucy McBath stands with state Senator Nikki Merritt, Congressman Hank Johnson, and members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.

Head Start is facing threats once again, this time due to the government shutdown.

I was pleased to return to the Chattahoochee Early Learning Center with the YMCA of Metro Atlanta to sound the alarm about these impacts. Thanks to a philanthropic effort, metro Atlanta Head Start locations will remain open, but the same cannot be said for providers in rural Georgia and across the country.

We must end this government shutdown and eliminate the threats to programs which serve children and their families.

Congresswoman McBath sits on the floor with children as she reads a book to them.

As I continue to urge my Republican colleagues and Speaker Johnson to take meaningful action in negotiating an end to the government shutdown, I am also taking advantage of opportunities to engage with folks in my district.

On Thursday, I was pleased to attend a groundbreaking and ribbon cutting at the Atlanta Beltline for Northwest Segments 4 and 5. I am always excited to celebrate projects that connect people to the places we love, and the Beltline is a perfect example of such a project. I look forward to enjoying this community asset with folks in our district for years to come.

Photo collage of Rep. McBath speaking at ribbon cutting and groundbreaking.

Thank you for staying up to date with my office. If you require federal assistance of any kind, I encourage you to call my office at (470) 773-6330 or email me at mcbath.house.gov/email-me. For more local updates, please visit my social media platforms.