Iowa Delegation Urges Senate to End Shutdown and Pass Bipartisan Bill to Reopen the Government

IOWA - Today, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) joined the Iowa Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging immediate passage of the bipartisan, bicameral Continuing Resolution (CR) already approved by the House.

The letter outlines the growing consequences for Iowa’s families, farmers, veterans, and service members:

• Over 18,000 federal employees in Iowa are either furloughed or working without pay, including nearly 10,000 Iowa National Guard troops, 1,800 of whom are serving overseas.
• 62,000 women and children who rely on nutrition programs face service disruptions.
• 267,000 Iowans on SNAP, including more than 100,000 children, could soon see delayed benefits.
• Thousands of Iowa farmers cannot access USDA offices for critical support.
• 680,000 Medicare beneficiaries risk losing access to telehealth services, while rural hospitals face funding shortfalls.

“The American people deserve a functioning government, not a Schumer Shutdown,” said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “For 20 days, Iowans have paid the price because Senate Democrats refuse to support a clean, bipartisan plan to fund the government. We passed a bill that keeps essential services running, pays our troops, protects families, and allows us to finish the appropriations process responsibly. It’s time for the Senate to act and put people over politics.”

“Chuck Schumer and the Democrats need to stop playing politics and reopen the government so our troops can get paid with certainty, low-income families receive nutrition benefits, and Americans can access the services they need,” said Rep. Hinson. “Thank you to Rep. Miller-Meeks for leading this effort and for tirelessly working to deliver for the Iowans we serve.”

“Every day this shutdown drags on, Iowa families are paying the price,” said Rep. Nunn. “Guardsmen are serving without certainty about their next paycheck. Veterans are missing care. Parents are choosing between filling the gas tank or putting food on the table. Iowans are united in their calls for Senate Democrats to set aside their partisan spending demands and reopen our government."

“In September, Republicans did our job and voted to keep the government open for Iowans. Unfortunately, Democrats chose to play politics and shut the government down because they won’t budge on giving free healthcare to illegal immigrants and adding $1.5 trillion to our $37-trillion debt. Their recklessness put pay for our troops and WIC payments at risk, and continues to hurt our farmers, seniors, veterans, and small businesses,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I’m glad to join forces with my Iowa colleagues demanding that Senator Schumer and the Democrats end their government shutdown. Again, the Democrats are hurting Iowa families all to give free healthcare to illegal immigrants and put our country deeper into debt.”

The Iowa Delegation’s letter to Schumer emphasizes that this shutdown is “inflicting real harm on the people of Iowa: women, children, farmers, veterans, seniors, and service members.” The letter calls on Chuck Schumer to “set aside partisanship, put the American people first, and vote to immediately reopen the government.”

House Republicans’ clean, seven-week CR would fund the government at current levels, allowing Congress time to complete the appropriations process while preventing unnecessary disruptions to essential programs.

Click HERE to read the Iowa Delegations full letter to Senator Schumer.

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