{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-holds-press-conference-elevate-voices-rhode-islanders-who-will-be", "Magaziner Holds Press Conference to Elevate Voices of Rhode Islanders Who Will Be Harmed By Government Shutdown", "2023-09-26", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Warwick, RI \u2014 Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) held a press conference to bring attention to the devastating impact a federal government shutdown would have on working Rhode Islanders, elevate the voices of groups that would be affected, and encourage House Republican leadership to take action to avert this manufactured crisis.\n\nHouse Republican leadership has threatened to shut down the government \u2014 despite the fact that both parties in Congress and President Biden had already agreed to a deal on government spending levels for the coming year. The decision of House Republicans to back out of the deal they agreed to is jeopardizing services and pay for thousands of working Rhode Islanders.\n\n\u201cA government shutdown would be devastating for working people in Rhode Island and across the country, and it is our duty to do everything we can to prevent this from happening,\u201d said Rep. Seth Magaziner. \u201cI\u2019m fighting to stop this manufactured crisis, and I\u2019m calling on my House Republican colleagues to put aside partisanship and work with Democrats to prevent a shutdown. The jobs and paychecks of working Rhode Islanders should not fall victim to political games.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must not allow the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our country go without pay,\u201d said Matthew McCoy, a 23-year retired U.S. Navy veteran from North Kingstown, RI. \u201cA government shutdown would threaten our national security, military readiness, and recruitment while impacting the financial stability of military families. Our service members shouldn\u2019t suffer because of political stunts. Congress must work to ensure the government remains open and our troops are paid.\u201d\n\n\u201cSocial Security and Medicare are bureaucratic, complex systems; and the people who use those systems \u2013 senior citizens and older adults with disabilities \u2013 often need help in order to get the benefits, care and assistance they are entitled to,\u201d said Cindy Coyne, Executive Director of the Senior Agenda Coalition and former Rhode Island State Senator. \u201cA government shutdown would furlough thousands of Social Security and Medicare workers and it would be felt immediately by recipients. We need government to work for those who need it most, and I want to thank the Congressman for continuing to fight for seniors in Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cWorkers deserve to be safe on the job, and this is non-negotiable,\u201d said Justin Kelley, Business Representative for International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 195. \u201cA government shutdown, however, would limit OSHA inspections which may lead to hazardous conditions that endangers workers\u2019 safety. It is incumbent upon Congress to ensure workers are taken care of, and I\u2019m calling for swift action to keep the government open and workers safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cA government shutdown \u2013 regardless of the length \u2013 will negatively affect the aviation safety professionals that maintain the National Airspace System,\u201d said Jamie Green, National Air Traffic Controllers Association New England Legislative Chair. \u201cAir traffic controllers, who are already overworked and understaffed, will now be asked to work without pay during the shutdown while many others will be furloughed. We urge Congress to work together to reach a bipartisan agreement to avoid a shutdown.\u201d\n\nA government shutdown would have devastating consequences for working Rhode Islanders, which includes:\n\nForcing Servicemembers and Law Enforcement Officers to Work Without Pay: All active-duty military personnel and many law enforcement officers would be required to work without pay.\n\nWorsening Social Security and Medicare Backlog for Seniors: Many Social Security workers would be furloughed, causing significant delays in the processing of benefits.\n\nDenying Food Assistance for Women and Children: Nearly 18,000 Rhode Islanders who depend on food assistance from WIC \u2013 including 10,000 children and 4,000 infants \u2013 will no longer be able to depend on this program once federal funding is exhausted.\n\nPutting Travelers\u2019 Safety at Risk: Air traffic controllers and TSA Officers would have to work without pay which could lead to staffing shortages that threatens travelers\u2019 safety.\n\nEndangering Workers: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would be forced to limit workplace inspections, putting worker safety at risk, and Americans who are owed back pay for their hard work would face delays due to the majority of Department of Labor investigations being suspended.\n\nEliminating Head Start Slots for Kids: 10,000 children across the country would immediately lose access to Head Start, affecting early childhood development and the ability for parents to go to work.\n\nThreatening Food Safety: The Food and Drug Administration could be forced to delay food safety inspections for a wide variety of products all across the country.\n\nImpairing Disaster Response: A shutdown would increase the risk that FEMA\u2019s Disaster Relief Fund is depleted, complicating new emergency response efforts.\n\nUndermining Public Health and Environmental Protections: Most EPA-led inspections at hazardous waste sites as well as drinking water and chemical facilities would stop. EPA would halt oversight and review of permits and plans to ensure safe drinking water and clean air in communities. Additionally, efforts to address dangerous contaminants like PFAS\u2014which are linked to severe health effects, including cancer\u2014would be delayed, and cleanup activities at Superfund sites would slow or cease.\n\nRep. Magaziner stands ready to work with anyone in order to keep the government open and is calling on House Republicans to work with Democrats to stop an unnecessary, harmful shutdown.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-holds-press-conference-elevate-voices-rhode-islanders-who-will-be"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.990202184766531, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}