Congresswoman Emily Randall Highlights Impacts of Federal Government Shutdown on Women, Children, and Families

OLYMPIA, WA - Today, Congresswoman Emily Randall hosted a press conference alongside Washington State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, State Senator T'wina Nobles, State Senator Jessica Bateman, the Executive Director of the Washington State Women's Commission, local labor leaders From UFCW 367 and SEIU 775, the Washington State Health Care Authority, and impacted community members.

The group discussed how the ongoing federal government shutdown's threats to WIC and Head Start programs in the state and the recently passed Big Ugly Law - which included Republican-led cuts to Medicaid (known in Washington as Apple Health) and the Affordable Care Act, reductions to SNAP benefits - are jeopardizing the health and stability of families across Washington state.

"The work ahead of us is challenging because we have no strong partners across the aisle in Washington D.C." said Congresswoman Emily Randall. "We have no partners in the White House. We are facing a health care crisis and are seeing the Republican party refuse to participate in ensuring that we are saving lives and saving health care across the country."

"Raising a child with disabilities is an invisible full-time job. My husband and I juggle 10-12 therapy appointments a week, and navigating services takes constant effort," said Olivia McGuire, mother of disabled children receiving Medicaid. "Medicaid is not a handout - it's a lifeline that allows families to survive and parents to stay employed. Anyone can join the disability community at any time - through accident, illness, or birth. My child is not a budget cut; these life-changing decisions impact his ability to reach his full potential and people's livelihoods."

"Health care is not a talking point." said Sen. Nobles. "Many of us know health care is a lifeline. Being able to access adequate health care is what keeps my constituents alive. It's what allows them to grow their families. It's what ensures they can get up and go to work each day, or just enjoy quality of life. And at this moment that lifeline is being stretched, it's being delayed and it's being put at risk."

Hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians risk losing their health care coverage due to the Big Ugly Law, as federal agencies scale back services and Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act are cut. These harmful policies will disproportionately impact low-income families, seniors, and rural communities who rely on Medicaid and other essential services to access care.