Senator Murkowski Urges Senate to Stay in Washington Until Government Shutdown Ends

The Impact of the Government Shutdown

• 📌 The government has been in a shutdown for 27 days, yet the Senate continues with business as usual, including committee hearings and voting on judges.
• ⚠️ This shutdown is not business as usual and is significantly impacting people, including those working on Capitol Hill who are not getting paid.
• 🏠 Capitol Hill police officers are facing financial stress, needing to pay for childcare and commute costs while not receiving their salaries, though they express pride in their service.
• 🥶 A federal employee in Fairbanks is struggling to afford a $2500 heating oil bill due to the shutdown's financial strain.

Congressional Pay and Responsibilities

• 💸 A caller suggests Congress should not get paid while federal workers are unpaid and should take fewer long weekends.
• ⚖️ Senator Murkowski agrees that Congress should consider taking fewer breaks, especially when essential workers are still required to report to duty without pay.
• ✈️ The speaker highlights that while some can take time off, others, like Capitol Hill police and building service staff, must still work, underscoring the disparity.

Looming Deadlines and Affected Services

• 🎃 By November 1st, SNAP payments for 66,000 Alaskans will not be processed, and WIC payments will also be impacted.
• 🚢 The maritime community faces delays in license renewals, impacting their ability to operate lawfully.
• 🏡 A housing project in Sitka is delayed due to a pending Army Corps permit, and a local business owner is waiting on an SBA loan.
• 🏫 A school district needs emergency construction dollars to repair a falling roof but cannot get assistance because the government is not operational.

Call to Action and Consequences

• 🆘 Federal workers, SNAP recipients, small businesses, and individuals needing essential services are all being negatively impacted by the shutdown.
• 🤝 Senator Murkowski calls for collaboration and communication between Republicans and Democrats, emphasizing that the American people are the ones losing.
• 🚢 She urges her colleagues to stay in Washington and remain in session until a resolution is reached to end the government shutdown.