Dear John,

It has been four weeks since government funding expired. Here are where things stand:

1. November 1st.

Tomorrow, on November 1, Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment begins in Louisiana and most other states. Republicans in Congress are refusing to work with Democrats to prevent ACA monthly premiums from increasing. As a result, 204,000 Louisianians will face skyrocketing health care costs when signing up for 2026 plans. If you are enrolled in a HealthCare.gov plan, you can preview your cost increases here.

Also tomorrow, November SNAP benefits will go unpaid. While the State has signed an emergency declaration for the elderly, disabled, and children, this does not cover all Louisianians who rely on SNAP. The federal government has a contingency fund that is legally obligated to be used to distribute SNAP benefits during a shutdown, but the Trump administration is choosing not to follow the law and deploy it. Funding for WIC is also at risk.

Are you a Louisiana resident who will be impacted by losing your SNAP benefits? I want to hear from you, tell me your story here.

2. What’s (not) happening in Washington

Meanwhile, during the shutdown, Trump has refused to meet with Democrats in Congress to negotiate a government funding bill.

Trump has focused on building his gold ballroom — financed by major corporations seeking favors from him, and which will also cost taxpayer money to maintain.

Republicans have kept the House of Representatives closed for over a month. By refusing to convene Congress, it’s clear they aren't even attempting to work toward a bipartisan solution.

Should Republicans negotiate with Democrats to end the government shutdown?
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Senate Democrats have voted seven times to reopen the government, prevent ACA premiums from rising, and reverse the Medicaid cuts in Trump’s "Big UGLY law." Every Republican voted no each time.

Republicans keep talking about “health care for illegal aliens,” which is completely made up. Undocumented immigrants cannot receive federally subsidized health care and are legally required to be treated by hospitals in life-threatening emergencies.

Senate Democrats also introduced two resolutions to pay all federal workers — including military members, law enforcement officers, and Social Security employees. Republicans blocked both measures.

Republicans' proposed bill would have paid only those federal employees still working during the shutdown — which would have left furloughed workers, who aren’t working due to no fault of their own, without a paycheck while they still have families to care for and bills to pay.

3. What’s Next
 
Republican leaders claim they’ll discuss ACA premiums once the government reopens. But Open Enrollment starts tomorrow, and the time to act is right now.

This government shutdown is getting old. It needs to end.

President Trump needs to return to Washington, meet with Democrats, and negotiate a bipartisan funding bill that reopens the government — so federal workers can get paid and SNAP benefits are distributed—and prevents millions of Americans from facing exploding health care premiums and potentially losing coverage.

For more information on how a government shutdown impacts you, visit my website.

Sincerely,

Troy A. Carter, Sr.
Member of Congress