Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, along with Congressman Vern Buchanan and 16 other Republican members of Florida’s congressional delegation, has sent a letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin. The lawmakers are urging Senate Democrats to pass the House Republicans’ clean continuing resolution (CR) in order to end what they call the “Democrat Shutdown.”
The letter calls for action to pay federal workers and servicemembers, restore benefits programs such as SNAP and WIC, and allow access to essential health services. “On behalf of all Floridians, we ask that you do the right thing and vote for the clean continuing resolution to pay our federal workers and servicemembers, restore crucial benefits programs like SNAP and WIC and allow Americans to once again access essential health services. Floridians and Americans deserve a government that puts them above politics. It’s time for Senate Democrats to stop holding government funding hostage and join House Republicans to reopen the government for the American people,” wrote Webster and his colleagues.
The letter was cosigned by Representatives Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Kat Cammack, Byron Donalds, Neal Dunn, Randy Fine, Scott Franklin, Carlos Giménez, Mike Haridopolos, Laurel Lee, Anna Paulina Luna, Brian Mast, Cory Mills, Jimmy Patronis, John Rutherford, and Maria Salazar.
In their message addressed directly to Schumer and Durbin, the lawmakers state: “With the government now shut down for over a month, Americans across the country are feeling the pain and witnessing firsthand the consequences of Senate Democrats refusing to put politics aside and responsibly fund the government. As members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, we urge you to stop giving in to the far-left voices in your party, come to the table and vote for the House-passed clean continuing resolution (CR).”
They argue that instead of supporting what they describe as a responsible measure from House Republicans—a clean CR—Senate Democrats have chosen a $1.5 trillion spending package that includes priorities such as taxpayer-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants. The letter also claims this proposal contains bailouts for media outlets favored by Democrats as well as cuts affecting rural health programs.
The lawmakers highlight impacts on Floridians due to lapsed federal support. They note that SNAP ran out of funds recently; nearly three million Floridians are among those who have lost access nationwide. Additionally seven million low-income mothers and children depending on WIC are seeing their benefits disappear.
Federal employees are also affected by missed paychecks during this shutdown period; according to Webster’s office 155,000 federal employees in Florida are currently not being paid despite ongoing work obligations.
The group points out broader effects including discontinued health programs such as “Hospital at Home,” which previously allowed Medicare beneficiaries care at home rather than hospitals or facilities.
They conclude: “For these reasons and more we implore you to end this unnecessary shutdown…Floridians and Americans deserve a government that puts them above politics. It’s time for Senate Democrats to stop holding government funding hostage…”
Daniel Webster has represented Florida’s 11th district in Congress since 2011 after replacing Alan Grayson. He previously served in both chambers of Florida’s legislature from 1980 through 2008 before moving into national office. Born in Charleston in 1949 he resides in Clermont today after graduating from Georgia Institute of Technology with a BS degree.
