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A Month of the Democrat Shutdown

It’s been over a month since Democrats shut down the government, and the impact on working Americans is devastating. The House already passed a clean, bipartisan continuing resolution with no gimmicks, no new spending, and full funding for critical programs like SNAP and WIC. Yet Senate Democrats have voted 13 times to keep the government closed.

Why? Because the progressive wing of their party is demanding $1.5 trillion in new spending, health care for illegal immigrants, and the repeal of commonsense reforms that protect taxpayers and strengthen Medicaid. They’re holding paychecks, food benefits, and vital services hostage for their political wish list.

Instead of supporting our military, veterans, seniors, farmers, and working families, Democrats are turning their backs on them. They even want to eliminate the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, the largest investment in rural health care in our nation’s history, which I fought to include in the Working Families Tax Cuts package. This program will help modernize rural hospitals, expand access to care, and support the providers serving small-town America.

Because of the Schumer Shutdown, 267,000 Iowans, including more than 100,000 children, have lost their SNAP benefits. WIC funding for women, infants, and children expired on November 1st. That’s why I introduced the Keep SNAP Funded Act, to ensure families don’t go hungry while Washington plays politics.

Here’s what this shutdown means for real people:

• 1,800 Iowa National Guard troops and 18,000 federal workers are working without pay.

• More than 700,000 troops nationwide are serving without paychecks.

• 267,000 Iowans, including 104,000 children, are losing their SNAP benefits.

• 42 million Americans nationwide are temporarily losing food assistance.

House Republicans have done our job, we passed a clean CR to keep the government open. Democrats have voted 14 times to keep it closed.

It’s time for Senator Schumer and his caucus to stop the political games, reopen the government, pay our troops, and deliver for the American people.

Representing Iowa's First District

I was proud to welcome veterans from the Quad Cities Honor Flight at the WWII memorial! As a 24-year Army veteran, it is always an honor to meet these veterans and thank them for their service and dedication to our nation!

It was great attending the Together Hawkeyes event in D.C. and meeting current and former students from the University of Iowa. It was wonderful to hear about the University’s support for student success. Go Hawks!

Great to welcome the Reif family from Oskaloosa to my office in Washington, D.C. today! Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

Had a productive meeting with Dean Jillian Kolesar from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in my D.C. office.

We discussed the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act and how it helps train and retain pharmacists across Iowa. We also talked about my DRUG Act to advance PBM reforms that bring real transparency and lower prescription drug prices.

Always proud to support Iowa’s pharmacists and the patients they serve.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks

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