Sessions: On Government Shutdown

This extra cost is more than Congress spends on NASA and the EPA combined.

Texas Insider Report WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over one month of the government shutdown. I remain ready to work with my Democrat colleagues on getting the government back open. However, Democrats are set on making the temporary COVID Obamacare premium tax credits permanent at an enormous cost to taxpayers. According to the Congressional Budget Office, doing so would increase the federal deficit by $350 billion over ten years, plus another $60 billion in interest costs, bringing total new spending to nearly $500 billion. This extra cost is more than Congress spends on NASA and the EPA combined.

Additionally, these expanded subsidies primarily benefit insurance companies and high-income individuals, allowing households earning up to $600,000 a year to qualify for taxpayer-funded assistance. Roughly one-third of the boosted subsidies go to people with incomes about 400% of the poverty level. I am all for lowering healthcare costs for Americans by passing sensible legislation and reform that helps those who are most in need, not individuals 400% above the federal poverty level. Until Democrats come to the table to open the government, we cannot negotiate improvements to healthcare.

As always, I am here to serve you. My offices are open through the shutdown to assist constituents. For answers to common questions, visit my Shutdown Guidance Page for updates and resources.

FEMA Grant to Lake Livingston
I’m pleased to announce that the Trinity River Authority (TRA) has received a $30 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund critical repairs to the Lake Livingston Dam following the flooding in spring 2024. This funding will reimburse TRA for their swift work to restore essential infrastructure that supplies water to Houston and communities across East Texas. I worked closely with FEMA and TRA leadership to help expedite this process and ensure these vital repairs received the federal support they deserved. I want to thank FEMA Region 6, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and TRA leaders Kevin Ward, Megan Deen, and Jeff Bradley for their tireless efforts to see this project through.

10,000 Small Business Voices Program
Yesterday, I met with small business owners from TX-17 who were in Washington as part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Voices Program. These entrepreneurs represented communities across Franklin, Round Rock, and Crockett. We had a productive discussion about the challenges facing small businesses in Texas and across the country. It’s critical that we reduce burdensome regulations so our small businesses can grow, innovate, and compete. The future is bright for American entrepreneurship as new technologies, including AI, continue to shape and strengthen our economy.