Tell Speaker Mike Johnson: Keep the Government Open

Here we go again. Problems viewing this email? [View it in your browser]( [Center for American Progress]( InProgress from the Center for American Progress Four Days Away From Another Potential Shutdown [Speaker Mike Johnson walking out of a press conference.]( Once again, America is on the brink of a government shutdown. A shutdown was narrowly avoided in October, costing former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) his job. Now, right-wing members of the House Republican caucus are back to threatening a government shutdown in order to cut [essential government programs]( that Americans depend on, including the Social Security Administration. Keeping the government running is one of Congress’ most basic responsibilities. Unless Speaker Mike Johnson can lead Congress to passing its budget in the next four days, the government will shut down on November 18—halting important services and programs that Americans rely on. Here are some immediate effects of a government shutdown: - Worker safety is endangered: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration ([OSHA]( would have to limit workplace inspections, leaving workers in dangerous fields more vulnerable to hazards, safety risks, and illness. - Public health and environmental safety are put at risk: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would [cease inspections]( for drinking water facilities and cleanup efforts for contaminants, posing a threat to the environment and public health—especially for low-income households and communities of color, which are disproportionately affected by environmental contaminants. - Sick children may go without health care: The National Institutes of Health’s [Clinical Center]( dedicated to conducting clinical research and treating difficult-to-treat illnesses, would not be able to accept new patients. This means about [200 patients]( including sick children, would be turned away and denied care each week. - Millions of government workers go without pay: More than [4 million federal government employees]( as well as contractors and service workers, would face the prospect of not receiving pay for their work or time furloughed during the shutdown, causing financial panic for those workers and their families. [Get the Latest on Economic Policy]( A Shutdown Must Be Averted Once again, extreme right-wing members of the House are threatening a preventable government shutdown as leverage to make drastic budget cuts to lifesaving government programs that Americans rely on. The consequences of a shutdown are catastrophic—hurting worker and consumer safety, health care access, and financial stability for millions of people across the country. Sign our letter to demand that House Speaker Mike Johnson keep the government open. [Take Action]( Blame Bush and Trump Tax Cuts for Rising Debt “The U.S. doesn’t have a spending problem; it has a revenue problem caused by tax cuts.” In a [new op-ed]( [Bobby Kogan]( senior director for Federal Budget Policy at CAP, explains that America’s rising national debt ratio is the result of tax cuts that began under Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump, not federal spending. The disproportionate benefits of these tax cuts favored the wealthy and corporations, resulting in low revenues even during periods of strong economic growth. The reduced revenues due to tax cuts have significantly affected the nation’s financial health, deviating from earlier projections that showed long-term stability in the debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio without requiring additional tax increases. Blaming spending for the rising debt is misplaced, as changes in revenues are primarily responsible for the increasing debt ratio. Instead, the United States should focus on regaining the lost revenue from the Bush and Trump tax cuts by ensuring that the wealthiest individuals and corporations pay their fair share and that the IRS has the resources needed to close the tax gap. [Keep Reading]( The Origins of the Center for American Progress [Video still of John Podesta with the caption "We were the first Washington based entity"]( The Center for American Progress began as an idea from John Podesta 20 years ago amid the beginnings of the Iraq War and the Bush administration. From the start, CAP has been about improving the lives of every American. And we’re not done yet. Learn about CAP’s origins and our hope for [the next 20 years](. [Share Now]( Two Years of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law This week, we’re celebrating two years of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law changing lives and communities nationwide. Since it was signed into law, billions of dollars have been [invested]( into improving and modernizing American cities while creating good-paying, union jobs. [Learn How Biden’s Policies Are Growing the Middle Class]( This progress is fully displayed in Mesa, Arizona, where 55-year-old union carpenter Fabian Sandez says, “Now’s a perfect time to enter the trades.” In a recent article by the [Copper Courier]( Sandez shared that funds from the infrastructure law and the CHIPS and Science Act have helped members of his union to get more work. “I have never in my 22 years of working as a carpenter heard the word ‘union’ come out of a president,” he told the Copper Courier. “Time and time again, he’ll speak about unions, he’ll speak about the middle class, which in the past used to be a taboo.” Sandez, who grew up in Mexico, never dreamed of building hospitals and casinos in the United States but has since been able to do so while working as a carpenter. And that’s not all: Thanks to the union, Sandez has health insurance for the first time and is able to save money. “I’m really grateful for what [President Biden has] done, for all of us in the industry,” Sandez says. “Especially the middle class." [Read Fabian Sandez’s Story]( [CAP 20 Boldly Forward]( Follow us on [Follow us on Twitter]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow us on YouTube]( [Follow us on Instagram]( [Support CAP]( [Manage Email Preferences or Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( [Center for American Progress]( Center for American Progress 1333 H Street NW Washington, D.C. 20005 [supporter]