River Bend Times

Today, members of Iowa’s Congressional Delegation, including Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, sent a letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, urging the Senate to pass a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen the federal government. The House has already approved the measure.

The letter highlights the impact of the ongoing government shutdown on Iowa residents. More than 18,000 federal employees in the state are either furloughed or working without pay, including nearly 10,000 Iowa National Guard troops, with 1,800 currently serving overseas. Service disruptions threaten 62,000 women and children who rely on nutrition programs, and 267,000 Iowans who receive SNAP benefits—over 100,000 of whom are children—could soon face delays. Many farmers are unable to access USDA offices for support, and 680,000 Medicare beneficiaries risk losing telehealth services as rural hospitals experience funding shortages.

Rep. Miller-Meeks stated, “The American people deserve a functioning government, not a Schumer Shutdown. 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.”

Rep. Hinson added, “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. Thank you to Rep. Miller-Meeks for leading this effort and for tirelessly working to deliver for the Iowans we serve.”

Rep. Nunn said, “Every day this shutdown drags on, Iowa families are paying the price. 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 letter from the Iowa Delegation states that the shutdown is “inflicting real harm on the people of Iowa: women, children, farmers, veterans, seniors, and service members.” It urges Senator Schumer to “set aside partisanship, put the American people first, and vote to immediately reopen the government.”

The House Republicans’ proposed seven-week CR would keep government funding at current levels while giving Congress additional time to complete appropriations and avoid disruptions in essential services.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks is currently serving in the U.S. Congress, representing Iowa’s 1st district after replacing Dave Loebsack in 2021. She previously served in the Iowa Senate from 2019 to 2021 and was born in Herlong, California in 1955 before moving to Le Claire. Miller-Meeks graduated from Texas Christian University in 1976 with a BSN.

The full letter from the Iowa Delegation to Senator Schumer can be read here.