Congresswoman April McClain Delaney Holds Telephone Town Hall on Government Shutdown's Impacts in Maryland’s 6th District

Congresswoman April McClain Delaney Holds Telephone Town Hall on Government Shutdown's Impacts in Maryland's 6th District

House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks Provide Updates from Both Chambers

Today, more than 15,000 people from Maryland's 6th District joined a telephone town hall with Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (D-MD) to discuss the government shutdown and its disruptions and impacts on Western Maryland.

The Congresswoman was joined by Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA) of the House Democratic Caucus and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland to discuss both Chambers' actions to stop the Republican's attacks on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If ACA tax credits are allowed to expire, 8,900 families across the 6th District will lose coverage and premiums would spike for 21,000 residents, straining the region's emergency rooms, rural medical centers, and social services centers. The Congresswoman also noted that 35,000 federal employees and active service members in her district are also furloughed or forced to work without the guarantee of a timely paycheck during this shutdown.

"Shutdowns hurt the American people and our civil service. They are bad for people, politics, and our public institutions - but this Administration's priorities and plans are even worse. If the President and Republican majorities in the House and Senate get their way, thousands of my constituents will lose health care and the rural hospitals and clinics in my districts will be at risk of closing. We must stand united to defend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits and fight against cuts to Medicaid for the wellbeing of Marylanders and all Americans," said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.

"I was honored to join Congresswoman McClain Delaney's telephone town hall and answer questions from people in Maryland's 6th Congressional District about the Republican shutdown and Democrats' ongoing fight to protect health care," said House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. "I am proud to work alongside Rep. McClain Delaney in Democrats' effort to find a bipartisan path to reopen the government and address the growing affordability and health care crises in this country."

"Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have driven our country into a partisan government shutdown and are holding the American people and our federal employees hostage. I am thankful to Congresswoman McClain Delaney for her leadership and for the opportunity to provide an update for Marylanders on how we're working to support our federal workers during this shutdown, as well as our efforts to get the government back open. We will continue fighting for a responsible government funding agreement that prevents a massive spike in health care costs for Marylanders and holds the president accountable to the law - we cannot give this lawless president a blank check," said Senator Van Hollen.

"Republicans have made it clear they would rather shut down the government than fight for Marylanders to have affordable, quality health care. I was glad to speak with Marylanders from the 6th District tonight to reiterate my commitment to lower costs, secure the health care Marylanders deserve, and protect our patriotic civil servants from President Trump's witch hunt," said Senator Alsobrooks.

Visit, call, and share your story. Shutdown resources can be found here. For questions or further assistance, the Office of Congresswoman McClain Delaney can be reached via email and below:

Washington DC Office

1130 Longworth House Office Building Phone: (202) 225-2721

Washington, DC 20515

Frederick District Office

30 W. Patrick St. Suite 505

Frederick, MD 21701

Phone: (301) 926-0300

Fax: (443) 441-6277

To listen to a recording of the call, click here.