Miller-Meeks Statement on Day 10 of the Democrat Government Shutdown

IOWA — Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) released the following statement on Day 10 of the Democrat-led government shutdown, which continues to harm American families, troops, veterans, and small businesses:

"It’s now Day 10 of the Democrat Government Shutdown. For ten days, families across Iowa have paid the price because Chuck Schumer and Washington Democrats refuse to support a clean, bipartisan bill to fund the government for 7-weeks and keep the government open. They’ve now voted seven times to keep it shut down, all to demand $1.5 trillion in new spending and taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants.

"This shutdown means Iowa’s federal workers aren’t getting paid, small businesses face delayed loans, and 62,000 families relying on nutrition assistance are living in uncertainty. Our Border Patrol and law-enforcement officers are serving without pay while Democrats put politics ahead of people.

"As a 24-year Army veteran, I voted to keep the government open because our troops, veterans, and working families deserve better. President Trump and House Republicans have delivered real solutions; it’s time for Senate Democrats to do their jobs, put the American people first, and end this shutdown." - Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Background

• House Republicans passed a clean, bipartisan, bicameral Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government open for seven weeks with no new spending.
• Despite having previously votedto pass CR's 13 times under Joe Biden, Democrats have now voted to reject this clean extension SEVEN times.
• Democrats are demanding $1.5 trillion in new spending and taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants instead.

The shutdown is impacting Iowans everywhere:

• 1,800 Iowa National Guard Troops serving overseas are not getting paid.
• 18,000 federal employees in Iowa are working without pay.
• 62,000 Iowans relying on WIC face program uncertainty.
• SNAP benefits for 267,000 Iowans, including 104,00 children could face disruptions.
• Small businesses are seeing $16 million in frozen SBA loan distributions this month.
• Iowa’s economy is losing an estimated $137 million per week as long as the shutdown continues.

Nationally

• Border Patrol, Corrections Officers, and our Military are all working without pay.
• Air Traffic Controllers and TSA Officers are working without pay, leading to flight delays around the country.
• Telehealth services for seniors are being cancelled due to a lapse in Medicare funding.

In addition to voting to pass the clean, bipartisan CR that would have kept the government open,Rep. Miller-Meeks has cosponsored the Pay Our Troops Act, legislation that would ensure service members receive their pay during the shutdown. 

Miller-Meeks has also cosponsored the Eliminate Shutdowns Act, legislation that if passed would ensure there will never again be a federal government shutdown, by triggering automatic 14-day continuing resolutions in the event of a lapse in appropriations for any federal program, project, or activity that was in effect at the time.

Congresswoman Miller-Meeks announced that she is withholding her pay during the entirety of this Democrat shutdown.

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