Many services will continue during government shutdown

I voted to pass the bipartisan, bicameral Continuing Resolution, which successfully cleared the House. It was a clean, nonpartisan seven-week extension with no new spending, giving Congress time to finish the remaining appropriations bills and keeping the government open.

But Senate Democrats refused to support it. Instead, they demanded $1.5 trillion in new spending and taxpayer-funded health care for illegal immigrants, while cutting $50 billion from rural hospitals. By rejecting the bipartisan CR, Democrats forced a government shutdown.

Their priorities are clear: illegal immigrants and far-left ideology, not our military, not our veterans, not our seniors and not hardworking American families.

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I will continue working to reopen the government and protect my constituents. And in solidarity with the federal workers and military families harmed by this shutdown, I will withhold my congressional pay until Democrats end their political games.

During the Democrat government shutdown, my D.C. and district offices will be available to assist you and your family. Our constituent services will continue, however there may be delays in processing casework due to agency policies.

To help you plan for a possible federal government shutdown, my office has prepared answers to these frequently asked questions. You can also contact my D.C. office at 202-225-6576, my Davenport office at 563-232-0930 and my Indianola office at 515-808-6040.

We are currently waiting on official guidance from the agencies and will keep you updated as we get more information, should the government shutdown.

While the programs listed below will continue, the agencies responsible for administering them may see reduced workforces impacting operations. This is not a comprehensive list as we are continuing to gather information.

Services that will continue during shutdown:

• Social Security payments, including SSI benefits

• Medicare and Medicaid benefits

• VA medical care and benefits (although some regional offices may be closed)

• SNAP benefits (although a prolonged shutdown could create disruptions)

• Disability payments

• Mail delivery

• Federal law enforcement and military operations

• Air travel

• Federal employee retirement payments

• Student aid such as Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans

• Visits to national Smithsonian Museums (until at least Monday, Oct. 6)

• Visa and passport services (although longer wait times are possible)

As agencies shut down, federal employees will either be furloughed, or in some cases required to work without pay. Under federal law, employees are entitled to back pay upon the government reopening.

Recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and SSI checks. The Social Security Administration will continue to provide limited services, such as issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications.

However, SSA will halt activities like benefit verifications and processing overpayments and the public will likely experience increased wait times for customer service.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children will remain operational in the case of a shutdown and benefits will continue being disbursed.

Military and federal retirees will continue to receive their retirement benefits. Processing new applications or other requested changes will be delayed. Benefits processing compensation, pension, education, health care and housing benefits will all continue.

In prior shutdowns, the Small Business Administration stopped processing new business loans, such as through the 7(a) and 504 programs. However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program continued regular operations.

Visa and passport operations are fee-funded and not normally impacted by a shutdown. Immigration court cases on the detained docket should still proceed during a lapse in congressional appropriations while non-detained docket cases will be reset for a later date when funding resumes.

In past shutdowns the Department of Homeland Security has continued Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement staffing and operations.

All services at international embassies and consulates should continue during a shutdown. If you are abroad and need help, you can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.