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Home My WebLink About102325 - Fighting to Reopen the Government and Protect Health CareALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/customers/WA06ER/NEWSLETTER.png> Friends, neighbors — It has now been 32 days since the House of Representatives has taken a vote — while the government remains shut down, Speaker Johnson refuses to engage with Democrats, refuses to call the House back into session, refuses to work in good faith on a bipartisan path forward to reopen the government and lower health care costs. While Republicans have been on vacation, I’ve been working hard with my Democratic colleagues to lower rising costs, cancel cuts to crucial programs, and protect the care of millions of Americans. After spending the last 3 weeks in DC searching for Republicans to negotiate with, this week I’m in Washington’s 6th district to meet with my neighbors, hear how this shutdown is affecting them, and gather their stories as I continue working to reopen the government. Here are some of the things you may have missed over the past few days: Join me TONIGHT for a Texting Town Hall Tonight, I’m hosting a texting town hall! I’ll be going live on Facebook <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.facebook.com%2fRepEmilyRandall&redir_log =018550625996283> , Instagram <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.instagram.com%2frepemilyrand all%2f&redir_log=373512520071299> , and YouTube <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.co m%2f%40CongresswomanEmilyRandall&redir_log=609118678022358> from 6–7 PM PST to answer your questions and talk about the issues that matter most to our communities. I can’t wait to hear from folks across the district and connect with you all tonight! Update on the Government Shutdown The Republican shutdown has passed the three-week mark. It is cruel and reckless that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to remain on vacation as countless neighbors continue to tell their stories of how important and necessary that Medicaid funding and the Affordable Care Act tax credits are to them to be able to afford health care. If they refuse to cancel the cuts and extend these tax credits for working families, many of you will see increases to your health care costs. Please share your notices of insurance increases with my team here so I can better advocate on your behalf. We can stop these increases from happening and keep costs low for Washingtonians, but only if Republicans come back to D.C. and negotiate with Democrats. Democratic Women’s Caucus Continues to Protect Health Care I joined my colleagues in the Democratic Women’s Caucus for a conversation with leaders from the Center for American Progress, MomsRising, the National Women’s Law Center, and Protect Our Care on the impact this Republican shutdown and health care crisis are having on women and families. After taking a chainsaw Medicaid and Medicare over the summer, Republicans’ decision not to extend the ACA tax credits and shut down the government have demonstrated their continued failure to protect women and families –– impacting their employment, well-being, and livelihoods. Contrast those failures with the urgency they had to pass tax cuts for the wealthy and well-connected earlier this year, and you can clearly see where their priorities lie. So long as I have the honor to represent Washington’s 6th district, women and families will have a champion committed to protecting their rights and putting them first. Adelita Grijalva Must Be Sworn-In Now Representative-Elect Grijalva was elected by the people of Arizona nearly a month ago. But Speaker Johnson refuses to seat her in the House of Representatives. This comes in stark contrast to the two Republicans that have won special elections this year, who were sworn in within 24 hours of their elections, on “pro forma” days where the House was not in full session. It’s no coincidence that once she is sworn in, she would become the final signature on the discharge petition to force a vote to release the Epstein files. I joined Adelita and Democratic colleagues in marching to the Speaker’s office and demanded he fulfill his constitutional duty as Speaker of the House. The people of Arizona made their voices heard at the ballot box, and they deserve their representation in Congress. We Continue to Hear That We Cannot Back Down While Republicans remain on vacation, Democrats still showed up in DC and held our own hearings on health care cost increases due to Republican inaction. In last week’s Steering and Policy Committee hearing, I spoke with a mom about the consequences of an increase in health care costs for her family and families across the country. While Republicans argue that there is plenty of time to address these issues before the end of the year, Democrats know the truth –– families cannot wait. Washingtonians received notices of cost increases this week, and families are facing tough budget choices, dipping into their hard-earned savings, or making the difficult decision to forgo health insurance entirely. Our neighbors cannot face an additional two months of financial uncertainty. I will continue doing all that I can to reopen a government and protect the health care of millions of Americans. Our Service Members Remain Caught in the Crosshairs I joined my friend, Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Mark Takano, to discuss the impact this shutdown is happening on service members across the country. In my district, I’m honored to represent thousands of active service members and 27,000 federal civilian employees, who are facing financial uncertainty during this Republican shutdown. Whether they have been furloughed or working without the certainty of being paid –– they deserve better. This is why I’m co-leading legislation to keep them safe from foreclosure, eviction, and loan defaults during the government shutdown. The Week Ahead This week I’m back home in our Washington, meeting with neighbors to hear their concerns. I’ll continue to advocate for our district’s priorities — from protecting health care to ensuring federal employees receive the pay and respect they deserve. No matter how long this shutdown lasts, I’ll keep showing up, speaking out, and fighting for working families across WA-06. Casework Reminder! Did you know our team is here to help you navigate federal agencies <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a %2f%2frandall.house.gov%2fservices%2fhelp-federal-agency&redir_log=204013618875381> ? Right now, federal agencies are working with limited staffing. However, our casework team is still here, working to get answers and solutions to your needs. Our office remains committed to doing all we can to assist you during this period. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these temporary challenges! Stay Connected: Follow me on Instagram <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.instagram.com%2frep emilyrandall%2f&redir_log=373512520071299> , Facebook <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.face book.com%2fRepEmilyRandall&redir_log=018550625996283> , YouTube <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f% 2fwww.youtube.com%2f%40CongresswomanEmilyRandall&redir_log=609118678022358> , and Bluesky <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report _id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fbsky.app%2fprofile%2frepemilyrandall.bsky.social&redir_log=587809271368371> for updates on my work for Washington’s 6th Congressional District. Talk to you soon, Emily Resources for Federal Workers * You can review your employment rights under federal law here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/employee-relations/employee-rights-appeals/#url=Appeals <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextran et/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.opm.gov%2fpolicy-data-oversight%2femployee-relations%2femployee-rights-appeals%2f%23url%3dAppea ls&redir_log=656483208721684> * Federal agencies are required by law to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees with disabilities. Learn more here: https://www.eeoc.gov/federal-sector/federal-employees-job-applica nts <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.eeoc.gov%2ffederal-sector%2ffederal-employees-job-appl icants&redir_log=759256772424482> * To understand statutory whistleblower protections and accompanying resources, click here: https://whistleblower.house.gov/resources/resources-whistleblowers <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/ iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwhistleblower.house.gov%2fresources%2fresources-whistleblowers&redir_log=532584919374479> * To understand prohibited personnel practices, including the right to appeal, visit here: https://www.mspb.gov/ppp/ppp.htm#faq <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&cro p=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mspb.gov%2fppp%2fppp.htm%23faq&redir_log=6960310775250> and here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/employee-relations/e mployee-rights-appeals/ <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.opm.gov%2fpolicy-data-oversight%2f employee-relations%2femployee-rights-appeals%2f&redir_log=963100031549602> * And for a basic primer on civil service law, click here: https://guides.loc.gov/federal-civil-service-employment-law <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5 792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fguides.loc.gov%2ffederal-civil-service-employment-law&redir_log=097244084578419> Resources for Veterans and Service Member Families * A list of your rights and responsibilities as a VA Patient or resident of a community living center: https://www.va.gov/health/rights/patientrights.asp <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqCli ckTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.va.gov%2fhealth%2frights%2fpatientrights.asp&redir_log=879169551713357> * A list of your rights and responsibilities as a VA Patient�s family member: https://www.va.gov/health/rights/familyrights.asp <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA06ER&cro p=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.va.gov%2fhealth%2frights%2ffamilyrights.asp&redir_log=019285181516350> * A list of your rights and responsibilities as a Tricare eligible member: https://tricare.mil/PatientResources/RightsResponsibilities <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=WA0 6ER&crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2ftricare.mil%2fPatientResources%2fRightsResponsibilities&redir_log=06615412523427> Washington DC Office 1531 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5916 Tacoma District Office 1102 A Street Suite 326 Tacoma, WA Phone:(253) 272-3515 Bremerton District Office 345 6th Street Suite 500 Bremerton, WA Phone:(360) 373-9725 Unsubscribe <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/EsurveyForm.aspx?__cid=WA06ER&__sid=100000&__crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228> <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/Customers/WA06ER/iqtrk.gif?crop=14351.5792905.5239173.7707228> <https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/Customers/WA06ER/iqtrk.gif?crop=14351.5792905.5239173. 7707228>