Miller's Op-Ed: How the Shutdown is Impacting Mountaineers

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) penned the below op-ed discussing the ongoing federal government shutdown and the effect it is having on West Virginians.

"All too often in Washington, politicians make decisions without understanding the real-world consequences for everyday Americans. We are witnessing that in real time with the ongoing government shutdown led by Senator Schumer and the Democrats, who have once again chosen to put political agendas ahead of the livelihoods of their constituents.

Instead of working to fund essential programs that keep our government agencies running, they have prioritized policies that benefit illegal immigrants over hardworking Americans. Meanwhile, men and women across the nation, especially in rural West Virginia, are bearing the cost. With government operations stalled, families are losing access to vital services, paychecks are being delayed, and small businesses and farms are struggling to make ends meet as support programs remain frozen.

Mountaineers, in particular, will bear the burden of the left's misplaced priorities, facing delays or even denials in flood insurance and disaster assistance. After the severe flooding that struck West Virginia earlier this year, it's deeply concerning that so many families and farmers are now left without the coverage and support they need to protect their homes and livelihoods. This failure will directly harm family-owned farms and rural landowners who depend on these programs to recover and rebuild when disaster strikes.

The current, clean Continuing Resolution (CR) passed by the House prioritizes the needs of our farmers and ensures that resources stay where they belong, which is supporting hardworking Americans, not illegal immigrants. While House Republicans have done our job, Democrats in the Senate would rather play political games and punish American workers than pass the same type of measure they supported more than a dozen times under the Biden Administration.

On top of the lack of flood insurance and other disaster relief resources, tens of thousands of Mountaineers are now going without pay. West Virginia is home to more than 37,000 federal employees, with over 25,000 of them living right here in my district. As long as the government remains shut down, these dedicated public servants will continue to miss paychecks and struggle to support themselves and their families. This nonsense must end. We need to reopen the government and stand up for the people who work tirelessly to serve our communities.

Small businesses will also feel the devastating impact of this shutdown. West Virginia is proud to be home to more than 100,000 small businesses, making up over 98% of all businesses in our state. These entrepreneurs are the backbone of our communities, driving local economies and creating jobs. Yet during uncertain times like this, they're losing access to critical SBA loans, federal contracts, and other forms of support they rely on to stay afloat. Without this assistance, local economies across West Virginia face serious risk, and hardworking small business owners are left to bear the burden of the left's dysfunction.

West Virginians know the value of hard work, faith, and community. They show up every day, even when Washington doesn't. This shutdown is far more than a political standoff, it's a failure to put the American people first. It's time to restore common sense and reopen the government so we can focus on the principles that built this nation."

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