Government Shutdown & Congressional Function - The House of Representatives is not in session despite the government shutdown, frustrating some members who believe they should be working to resolve the situation [1][3] - The speaker's rationale for not being in session is based on a previous vote for a seven-week continuing resolution, which some members find insufficient given the current crisis [2] - The shutdown has halted oversight hearings, legislative markups, and other scheduled activities of the House [5] - There are concerns about Congress ceding its legislative authority to the executive branch, particularly regarding the movement of funds during the shutdown [15][17][18] Impact of Shutdown - The shutdown is causing hardship for many, including potential missed paychecks for military personnel, furloughs for over 1 million federal employees, and disruptions to services like national parks [7][9][10] - The White House is attempting to mitigate the impact by finding funds to pay military members, but this is viewed as a short-term solution [7][9] Potential Solutions & Political Considerations - There is a call for bipartisan negotiations, including discussions on Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, to find a way out of the shutdown [11][12][13] - A one-year extension of ACA subsidies is suggested as a possible pathway to resolving the impasse, though broader healthcare reforms are also needed [19][20] - The speaker is urged to engage with Senate leaders to find a resolution [11] Redistricting Concerns - There is bipartisan opposition to mid-decade redistricting efforts, with concerns about gerrymandering and its negative impact on representation [26][29][30] - A bill to ban mid-decade redistricting is proposed, with potential for passage if brought to a vote [25][26]
Congress should be exploring 'any and all options' to end shutdown, says GOP lawmaker
NBC Newsยท2025-10-14 21:00