As the U.S. Government Shutdown becomes the longest in history, a Lakes Region Lawmaker meets with two groups impacted by the impasse.

The full press release from Congressman Steve Womack's Office is below:

This week, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) convened two roundtable discussions with local agriculture and healthcare leaders to hear directly from those impacted by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Congressman Womack said, “It was invaluable to hear directly from my constituents and leaders in our region about how the shutdown is affecting them, as well as the broader issues impacting their industries. Whether it’s families losing access to SNAP, farmers left without critical aid, or hospitals facing uncertainty around reimbursement for patient care, the real victims of Congress’ dysfunction deserve better. We must find a way to reopen the government. I am doing all I can to make that happen and support my constituents in the Third District.”

During the agriculture roundtable, stakeholders described how the shutdown is disrupting farmers’ access to critical U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, with the processing of new loans completely frozen. One attendee shared the story of a farmer who initially believed the shutdown wouldn’t affect him until just yesterday, when he struggled to reach his local Farm Service Agency office to discuss his participation in a conservation program.

At the healthcare roundtable, leaders from regional medical centers, hospitals, and clinics emphasized how the shutdown is creating uncertainty for both providers and patients. Several stakeholders raised concerns that the lapse in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding could worsen food insecurity, potentially leading to new health issues and increased emergency room visits. Others discussed the financial strain the shutdown is placing on healthcare systems due to delayed Medicare reimbursements.

On September 19th, Congressman Womack voted in favor of a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government at current levels for seven weeks and prevent a shutdown. The funding extension has been blocked more than a dozen times by a majority of Senate Democrats, prolonging the government shutdown.