As Congress remains deadlocked about funding the federal government, Newsday Opinion asked Long Island&rsquo;s four members of the House of Representatives to share their views on how to end the stalemate.

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Senate Democrats have shut down the government, a decision that is directly harming Long Islanders and Americans across the country. 
It did not have to happen this way. The House did its job with time to spare by passing a clean, short-term funding extension to keep the government open and operational at current funding levels. The Senate has yet to advance a funding bill of any kind. Because the Senate requires 60 votes to move this legislation, Democrats must work with Republicans and vote to reopen the government. Instead, Democrats in the Senate are using the shutdown as leverage for a partisan agenda. 
While there are important policy debates to be had before the end of the year, those debates require time and thoughtful discussion and should never come at the expense of Long Island's working families. The first order of business must be reopening the government so Congress can get back to work and pass the annual appropriations bills. 
I have consistently voted to keep the government open and funded, regardless of which party is in the White House. The stakes are too high. On Long Island, the impact is immediate and painful. Tens of thousands of federal employees, including law enforcement officers, Transportation Security Administration&nbsp;agents&nbsp;and air traffic controllers, are missing paychecks they depend on. Every dollar matters to these families, and they should not be forced to bear the cost of Washington's dysfunction. 
The National Flood Insurance Program, a lifeline for coastal communities like ours, has also lapsed. We are in the middle of hurricane season with the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy right around the corner. Without the ability to obtain or renew flood insurance policies, some Long Islanders may be left vulnerable just when they need certainty most. 
The damage extends beyond our local economy. A lapse in funding undermines America's national security at a time of growing threats from our adversaries abroad. Key Homeland Security programs are now at risk, including cyber defense grants for state and local governments, tools that allow the federal government to take down malicious drones in U.S. airspace, and information-sharing authorities that protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks. As chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, these are not abstract policy points. They are core security functions that protect American lives every day. 
Vital services are closing their doors through the shutdown, including the Internal Revenue Service's&nbsp;taxpayer advocate office and virtual assistance programs for veterans seeking help from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Small business loan distribution has also been frozen. Each of these closures represents a real person waiting longer for help they rely on. 
The way forward is simple. The Senate must act. If not by passing the House's clean funding bill, then by sending over their own version for the House to consider. What cannot continue is political paralysis while Long Islanders are caught in the middle. 
We need to come together as Americans, not as partisans. We can have serious debates about spending priorities, national security&nbsp;and the direction of our country, but only after the government is reopened and families can breathe again. 
For now, the focus must be on restoring stability and responsibility in Washington. It is what Long Islanders expect and what the American people deserve. 
This guest essay reflects the views of Rep.&nbsp;Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), who represents the 2nd&nbsp;Congressional District.

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Long Islanders pay the price for government shutdown

Rep. Garbarino: Long Islanders pay the price for shutdown

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One of the top issues I heard when I campaigned for Congress was that the cost of health care was crippling to many young people, families and seniors alike. Too many people are finding that keeping up with insurance premiums, copays, deductibles and other health costs is squeezing out the ability to pay for other necessities in their lives. This crisis impacts Americans from every party in every state. Accordingly, addressing this should be a bipartisan priority for both sides of the aisle and we should be working together to find a fiscally sound way to ease this burden for all Americans. 
Unfortunately, Republicans are once again attacking our health care system. Their tax bill, passed without any bipartisan input earlier this year, included the largest cuts to Medicaid in its history. And instead of both sides working together to address the cost-of-living crisis Americans are facing, Republicans refused to even negotiate or entertain a funding package that would help reduce health care costs and chose to allow the government to shut down instead of working together. I continue to urge my GOP colleagues to join me in prioritizing lowering health care costs over political gamesmanship and come to the negotiating table to work for the American people. 
The plan of the Republican majority&nbsp;would eliminate the Affordable Care Act&nbsp;tax credits that bring down health care costs for over 21 million Americans. For years, these tax credits have helped thousands of Nassau County families afford health care and make ends meet by reducing the cost of their monthly insurance bills. Health care experts at the Century Foundation warn that if these credits expire, all Americans will face the largest single-year insurance price hike in U.S. history. 
When people lose their insurance, costs rise for everyone, even those with private insurance. If these credits lapse, Nassau County residents, who are already struggling with the rising price tag of groceries, utilities and child care, could see their medical costs rise dramatically. According to the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, a family of four could see their annual insurance bill increase by over $13,000&nbsp;and&nbsp;a single mother could face a price hike of more than $10,000 for coverage, while a couple in their 60s might see their premiums rise by over $20,000. 
With ACA tax credits currently set to lapse at the end of the year, Long Islanders are counting on Congress to work together and give families much-needed certainty that they will be able to afford their health care. A recent KFF poll found that 80% of Americans, from every walk of life, agree that Congress should work together to prevent these ACA tax credits from expiring. 
Americans are tired of the gridlock and dysfunction that is all too common in Washington. The majority's continued refusal to negotiate is only prolonging the government shutdown and making life more expensive for Nassau County residents. Instead of listening to the intolerant extremes on either side, members of Congress should work together to solve the problems our constituents sent us to Washington to fix. 
Both parties need to come together to craft a bipartisan plan to fund critical government and public safety services while also helping Long Island families afford their coverage by preserving these vital tax credits. I hope my colleagues change course, put partisanship aside and come to the negotiating table. 
This guest essay reflects the views of Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre), who represents the 4th&nbsp;Congressional District.

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Give families certainty on health care

Rep. Gillen: Give families certainty on health care

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As the nation endures the third week of a federal government shutdown, it's critical to understand its origins, the toll it's taking on Long Islanders and the rest of the country, and how those responsible for this crisis can resolve it. This shutdown didn't happen by accident — it's the result of a lack of political courage and a failure by Washington leaders to prioritize the American people's needs over their own political ambitions. 
A quick search of quotes from Sen. Chuck Schumer on government shutdowns reveals countless statements where he lamented the harm they caused. On Sept. 23, 2024, Schumer said&nbsp;on X that&nbsp;"a&nbsp;shutdown would mean chaos and pain and needless heartache for the American people." He was right. 
The Freedom Caucus and other conservative groups bear responsibility for recent past shutdowns. But today's shutdown is rooted in Democrat partisan obstructionism and an effort to appease a growing socialist wing of the party that prioritizes fighting President Donald Trump over addressing the real needs of the American people. CNN's Jake Tapper properly said Democrats are to blame for this shutdown. 
Back in March, Schumer stood up to his party's base, ensuring the government stayed funded despite significant political backlash. He did the right thing and I said so publicly at the time. But today, to save his political skin, Schumer has shifted, leading the charge against a clean funding bill that would reopen the government. 
The effects of this shutdown are being felt across the country — and here on Long Island. With over 31,000 federal employees on the Island, many are facing unpaid furloughs or working without pay. These are the men and women who serve in essential roles — from scientists and engineers at Brookhaven National Laboratory to air traffic controllers at Long Island MacArthur Airport, to Coast Guard personnel at Eatons Neck, Montauk&nbsp;and Shinnecock. Their livelihoods are at risk, yet Senate Democrats, under Schumer's leadership, continue to block efforts to reopen the government. 
Beyond the economic toll, vital programs such as food assistance, health care, veterans' benefits&nbsp;and military pay are in jeopardy. Thankfully, President Trump found a way for our troops to receive their midmonth pay during the shutdown. As a Navy veteran, I know firsthand how important stability is for our troops and their families. The ripple effect is devastating for vulnerable populations nationwide, including veterans relying on VA health care and seniors with new Social Security claims. 
Long Island's small businesses are also suffering. The shutdown disrupts everything from business regulations to loans, affecting our local economy. Our small businesses — the backbone of Long Island — are facing unnecessary obstacles due to Senate Democrats’ obstructionism. 
Schumer must follow the example set by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023, who risked his own political future to keep the government open. Voting for the clean funding bill isn't a concession to Trump, it's a vote to ensure our military is paid and federal workers — many of whom are Long Islanders — receive the compensation they deserve. 
Democrats claim this shutdown is about health care, specifically the Affordable Care Act's premium tax credits. Yet, the credits don't expire until the end of the year. And before the shutdown even began, there was bipartisan consensus on extending these credits. So, why shut down the government over something that has months before it even becomes a problem? 
It's wrong to use a shutdown for policy or political purposes. The American people want solutions, not political games. The House has already passed a clean continuing resolution&nbsp;with bipartisan support. It's time for Senate Democrats to stop blocking it. 
Long Islanders deserve better. Let's end the Schumer Shutdown and get back to doing the people's business. 
This guest essay reflects the views of&nbsp;Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville),&nbsp;who represents the 1st&nbsp;Congressional District.

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Time to solve the Schumer Shutdown

Rep. LaLota: Time to solve the Schumer Shutdown

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The government has shut down, and Washington is at a standstill. Republicans control the presidency, the Senate and the House, but they need Democratic votes to meet the 60-vote Senate threshold. Based on many conversations with both Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, I believe most want to 1) reopen the government, and 2) address the health insurance premiums set to skyrocket on Jan.&nbsp;1&nbsp;if Congress doesn't act, with notifications hitting mailboxes on Nov. 1. So, what's the problem? 
Nobody trusts each other!&nbsp;Republicans want to move forward with a handshake that they'll discuss health insurance once the government is reopened. Democrats want health insurance addressed swiftly as a condition of reopening. 
Many lawmakers in each party have consistently held that shutdowns should not be used as a negotiating tactic. I'm traditionally inclined toward that belief, as are many members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus that I co-chair. 
Unfortunately, we're in unprecedented times. The administration has unilaterally fired employees, ended vital programs&nbsp;and rescinded previously approved budgets, often issuing chaotic reversals. The president has generally ignored constitutional powers vested in Congress, from our "power of the purse"&nbsp;to our oversight over military action, even on the homefront. 
The president and congressional Republican leadership have refused to negotiate with Democrats. The president's first meeting with Democratic leadership since taking office in January was just two weeks ago. Even now, he levies threats against blue states and federal workers to try to impose his will. 
This fight is the first time in nine months the Democrats have asserted themselves on two of the issues Americans care about most: affordability and health care. 
When you poll the American people, their No. 1 concern is the cost of living. I was there when the president promised in his inaugural address that he would "rapidly reduce prices." 
Nine months later,&nbsp;inflation is up and the cost of living keeps climbing. Now,&nbsp;with the expiration of the&nbsp;tax credits, health insurance is set to cost more than ever. 
Health care has long been too expensive — it's one of the top categories of household spending. Enhanced premium tax credits from the Affordable Care Act have been a lifeline, especially for families and small businesses. Unless Congress acts now to extend them, their expiration will devastate 22 million people across the country.&nbsp;Premiums for nearly 100,000 Long Islanders will jump thousands of dollars, and more than 4 million people nationwide could lose coverage, which raises costs for everyone. When healthy people forgo coverage, otherwise insured people see premiums skyrocket. Probably yours will too. 
Generally, Democrats want the credits permanently extended. Republicans want to end them altogether. Ultimately, Congress needs to compromise. Right now, our priority must be stopping these massive health insurance hikes by any means necessary. 
I am leading a bipartisan compromise with Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia. The Premium Tax Credit Extension Act would protect families for an additional year and give lawmakers time to pursue deeper reforms to reduce health care costs like lowering prescription drug prices, rewarding preventive care&nbsp;and demanding price transparency. 
Our bill to extend just for one year is not perfect — I would prefer a permanent or even multiyear extension — but Democrats, who are in the minority, and Republicans, who cannot open the government alone, need to learn that half a loaf is better than crumbs. 
We must abandon the "my way or the highway"&nbsp;style of governance and get back to working together for the people we serve. We can start by reopening the government, voting to extend health insurance credits to stave off crushing increases, and making the affordability crisis our joint top priority. 
For most Americans, Washington didn't "shut down"&nbsp;just this month; it's been closed for too long. We need to reopen the doors, negotiate in good faith, and prove to America that Washington is finally listening. 
This guest essay reflects the views of&nbsp;Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who represents the 3rd Congressional District.

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Reopen the government, stop massive health insurance hikes

Rep. Suozzi: Reopen government, stop health insurance hikes

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Long Island House reps on ending deadlock

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LI House reps on ending deadlock

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