Dear Friends, 

This week, the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history finally came to an end. As government reopens, my office has prepared a webpage to answer any questions you may have. You can always contact us at 860-278-8888. 

I strongly opposed the dirty ‘deal’ Republicans pushed through Congress this week that did nothing to lower health care costs. My colleagues’ refusal to extend health care tax credits means the average family in my district will see their premium costs rise by $2,571, not to mention the 15 million Americans who will lose their coverage entirely because of President Trump’s cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. House Republicans didn’t have my vote when they created this health care crisis, and they certainly don’t have it now. 

To add insult to injury, Senate Republicans snuck a provision into the funding bill that passed this week to provide millions in taxpayer-funded cash payouts to eight Senate Republicans who had their records lawfully subpoenaed as part of an investigation into the January 6th insurrection. It is the most corrupt provision I’ve ever voted on during my time in Congress. I voted against it this week and am fighting to repeal it. We need to address the high cost of health care and make life more affordable for everyone, not pad the pockets of Republican Senators at the expense of the American people.  

This was the longest government shutdown in American history and should never happen again. Air traffic controllers, Capitol Police, nurses and doctors were forced to work without pay, and millions of Americans had their SNAP nutrition benefits illegally withheld by the President during this shutdown. While the American people suffered, the politicians responsible for the shutdown continued to get paid. For the duration of the shutdown, I refused to take my salary. I also introduced the ‘Make America Govern Again’ Act to ensure pay for all federal workers – civilian and military – and withhold pay for Members of Congress, the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, and political appointees during a government shutdown.  

Throughout that time, Speaker Johnson kept the House in recess for weeks on end, preventing us from addressing the people’s business and reopening the government. I introduced the “Opening the People’s House Resolution” to change House rules and allow a majority of Members a vote to bring the House back into session. One man should not have the power to stop the people’s business like that ever again.  

When the House came back into session, we were finally able to swear in Adelita Grijalva, the new Representative from Arizona. She became the 218th signature needed on our petition to bypass the Speaker and force a House vote on releasing files related to federal investigations into child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In Congress, we heard directly from some of the brave survivors of his abuse network. They deserve to see their perpetrators brought to justice, no matter how rich or powerful they may be. Even as the Trump White House tries to pull out all the stops to block the release of these files, I will keep fighting for the answers the American people deserve. You can view my conversation with NBC Connecticut on the need to release the Epstein Files below.  

If you have questions as government reopens or need assistance with a federal agency, please reach out to my office at 860-278-8888. You can also visit our webpage addressing frequently asked questions as government reopens. To follow what I’m working on both in Washington and in Connecticut, visit my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or follow me on Instagram.     

Regards,

John B. Larson
Member of Congress