Congressman Gonzalez Advises How Potential Government Shutdown Would Impact South Texans

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) released information today outlining the programs and services that would be affected should a government shutdown occur on January 20, 2018.

"South Texans have a right to know what is at stake should the federal government shut down," Congressman Gonzalez said. "I would also like to remind my fellow members of Congress that shutdowns have real consequences for our constituents, our economy, and our national security. I call on my colleagues across the Capitol to recognize the gravity of the situation and pass this continuing resolution before the impending deadline."

Social Security, Medicare, and Affordable Care Act Beneficiaries:

• Social Security, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act are part of the mandatory budget and, therefore, these programs would remain in operation;
• All Social Security checks would be sent to beneficiaries;
• Services in Social Security field offices and processing centers would be limited;
• No new or replacement Social Security cards or updated earnings would be processed.

Veterans:

• Department of Veterans Affairs disability claims would be backlogged as new claims are submitted;
• Important veterans' services would be halted, such as services that help veterans understand benefits, education call center, and all regional offices would be closed;
• Delayed access for veterans' workshops designed to help transition to civilian life and employment;
• Medical services for veterans would continue to be available during a government shutdown.

Military:

• Most Department of Defense budget planning and preparation would cease;
• Military personnel would not receive paychecks during a funding lapse;
• Military operations abroad would continue.

Small Businesses:

• Small businesses that contract with the federal government would be significantly impacted;
• The failure to receive government payment could see temporary contractors to be forced to either lay off employees or impose temporary regulations that could create financial hardship on small businesses;

• No new approvals of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for business working capital, real estate investment, or job creation activities would occur;
• Agricultural export credit activity and other agricultural trade development and monitoring would cease.

Tourists:

• Disrupted tourism and travel by closing national parks and other national tourist sites;

Home Owners:

• Potential delay in home loan decisions for low-income working families in rural communities;
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture's single-family loan guarantee pro­gram could face the inability to process loan applications during the shutdown, preventing el­igible families from receiving loans.

Communities and Cities:

• The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund would suspend its grants and technical assistance to communities across the country, delaying investments that finance businesses and create jobs in distressed neighborhoods;
• Department of Commerce grant-making programs for economic development would cease, as would most payments by the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant program to state and local governments.

The following federal departments would be closed in the event of a government shutdown:

• Commerce, except National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
• Education;
• Energy (offices that oversee the safety of the nation's nuclear arsenal, dams and transmission lines would remain open);
• Environmental Protection Agency;
• Food and Drug Administration;
• Health and Human Services;
• Housing and Urban Development;
• Interior;
• Internal Revenue Service;
• Labor;
• NASA;
• National Institute of Health;
• Smithsonian.