Government Shutdown

In recent years, Congress has on multiple occasions enacted a “continuing resolution” that extends the most recent budget into the future. These resolutions are usually non-controversial measures that allow the government to continue to function normally while Congress works to find common ground on future funding levels for government programs and agencies. The current resolution expired at midnight on September 30. As a result of not passing a continuing resolution before the deadline, every “non-essential” function of the federal government will shutdown until a new continuing resolution is enacted.

Unfortunately, Republicans in the House of Representatives and the Senate have refused to enact a continuing resolution unless President Obama and Democrats agree to delay the Affordable Care Act, a law that has already benefited millions of Americans and is poised to provide a new path to affordable healthcare for millions of families and individuals. This is simply unacceptable.

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act was enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate, signed into law by President Barack Obama, and the Supreme Court ruled that the law was constitutional. The health care law has been implemented within the requirement of both our Constitution and the Administrative Procedures Act, which controls the actions of federal agencies. This historic legislation is already providing millions Americans security in their health coverage by expanding Medicaid, allowing individuals to stay on their parent's health plan until the age of 26, prohibiting the denial of coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and ensuring access to free preventative healthcare. More importantly, the new insurance exchanges that open on October 1st will provide unprecedented access for Americans to new and improved affordable health plans catered to their individual needs.

In relation to the specifics of a government shutdown, it is important to remember that the term “non-essential” has a broad definition that includes many functions of government. Please note that my offices are all still open and able to assist you. The list below outlines the consequences of a government shutdown :

• Hundreds of thousands of Federal employees immediately and indefinitely furloughed, and many Federal employees and contractors that continue to work not paid during the shutdown.

• SBA stops approving applications for small businesses to obtain loans and loan guarantees, typically more than $1 billion per month.

• Housing loans to low and middle income families in rural communities put on hold, as well as start-up business loans for farmers and ranchers.

• Projects to improve rail and other mass transit infrastructure will cease as nearly 1,300 grantees lose access to federal funds.

• Commercial export sales halted.

• Federal economic reports used by businesses and investors not released.

• The government will stop or delay environmental reviews of planned transportation and energy-related projects, keeping companies from working on these projects.

• Army Corps of Engineers construction stopped, hurting private companies and preventing job creation, and closure or reduced hours for 2,500 Corps of Engineers Sites.

• The Administration on Children and Families (ACF) will not be able to award new TANF and child care grants, which provide a lifeline to low-income working families.

• National parks, Smithsonian museums, and other federal lands closed immediately, negatively affecting local economies dependent on tourism.

• Approximately 72 percent of the Intelligence community’s civilian workforce furloughed.

• Physical protection for diplomatic personnel and facilities in dangerous locations overseas compromised, and risk assessments to inform advisory warnings for American tourists and corporations overseas restricted.

• Security assistance and counterterrorism aid for critical allies like Israel curtailed.

• Delays in technology upgrades put us at greater risk for cyber attacks.

• Federal efforts to enhance vehicle safety, aviation safety, and modernize our air traffic control system cease and aviation safety inspectors furloughed.

• Training curtailed for federal law enforcement agents.

• Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Standards program closes down after October 4th.

• VA call centers and hotlines cease to function, and VBA Regional Offices public contact services not available.

• No decisions issued on claims appeals or motions.

• Recruiting and hiring of Veteran job applicants cease.

• Claims processing and payments in the compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation programs suspended when available funding is exhausted in late October.

• The federal bureau responsible for providing specialized and targeted employment and training services to veterans will cease to operate.

• Federal assistance to school districts, colleges and universities, and vocational rehabilitation agencies severely curtailed.

• Important government research into life-threatening diseases, environmental protection, and other areas halted.

• NIH shuts down most medical research taking place on its Bethesda campus, stop admitting new patients into its research hospital, and stop reviewing grant applications and making or renewing research grants.

• CDC to greatly curtail its activities to promote immunization, detect outbreaks of infectious diseases, support state and local health departments, and update disease treatment and prevention recommendations.

• CMS unable to continue discretionary funding for health care fraud and abuse.

• FDA unable to support majority of food safety, nutrition, and cosmetics activities.