Sioux City Times

U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) and other members of Iowa’s congressional delegation have sent a letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), urging the Senate to pass a continuing resolution that House Republicans approved in September. The letter calls for an end to the ongoing government shutdown.

“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 highlights several impacts of the shutdown on Iowa residents. More than 18,000 federal employees in Iowa are either furloughed or working without pay, including nearly 10,000 members of the Iowa National Guard—1,800 of whom are serving overseas. Additionally, 62,000 women and children who rely on nutrition programs face service disruptions, while 267,000 Iowans on SNAP—including over 100,000 children—could soon see delayed benefits.

Thousands of Iowa farmers are unable to access USDA offices for support, and 680,000 Medicare beneficiaries may lose access to telehealth services as rural hospitals face funding shortfalls.

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 calls on Schumer to “set aside partisanship, put the American people first, and vote to immediately reopen the government.”

The House Republicans’ proposed seven-week continuing resolution would fund the government at current levels while Congress works on appropriations and seeks ways to reduce federal spending.

Randy Feenstra has represented Iowa’s 4th congressional district since 2021 after replacing Steve King. Before his election to Congress, he served in the Iowa Senate from 2009 to 2021. Feenstra was born in Hull, Iowa in 1969 and continues to reside there. He graduated from Dordt University with a bachelor’s degree in 1991.