Val Hoyle News
A MESSAGE FROM VAL
Dear Neighbors,
Normally, Congress would be in session, and we would be working in a bipartisan way to negotiate and pass appropriations bills and develop a budget for 2026. We would be holding committee hearings to develop policies or to address problems in the current laws and we would, as per our oath to the Constitution, serve as a check and a balance to the Executive and Judicial branches of government. That’s not what is happening right now. As this government shutdown drags on and this administration’s policies continue to target critical programs that serve our state, I wanted to give you some updates about what is going on in Congress.
Government Shutdown
At 12:01 a.m. ET on October 1st, the federal government shut down because Congressional Republicans did not pass a funding bill to keep the government open. From the beginning, I was clear: any funding agreement needed to help prevent over $1 trillion nationwide in Medicaid cuts, reduce skyrocketing health insurance premiums, and rein in an executive branch that has refused to respect Congress’s constitutionally mandated power of the purse.
This is not a political issue; this is an impending crisis with life-or-death implications. In our district alone, the Medicaid cuts combined with increased health insurance costs would leave more than 30,000 people without coverage and many more will see significant increases in their health care premiums. The United States has the most expensive health care system in the world and until we are able to pass Medicare for All, we need to ensure that we don’t go back to the pre-ACA days when too many Americans could not afford or qualify for health coverage.
Republicans control the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives and there is a conservative, Republican-appointed majority on the Supreme Court. Conservatives in D.C. did not accept our amendments and rushed a partisan bill through the house with little Democratic input. Democrats represent nearly half of the Americans in this country and deserve to have a seat at the table. Without a voice in the process, why would we vote for the final product?
Conservatives are working overtime to say that this government shutdown is the sole responsibility of Democrats which is one of the most epic examples of gaslighting I’ve seen. They wanted this shutdown. Russel Vought, President Trump’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget, is openly discussing the possibility of firing even more federal government workers. And every day that votes aren’t called, we cannot do our jobs and Adelita Grijalva, the newest incoming member of Congress from Arizona, can’t be sworn in. Once she is officially sworn in to Congress, she plans to be the 218th signature on the discharge petition demanding the release of the Epstein files. Whatever is in those files needs to be exposed, and whoever is implicated in those egregious crimes should be punished.
I want our government open and for Congress to get back to work and I’m ready to do just that. However, I will not sell out the people of our district to help give massive tax cuts to trillion-dollar corporations and their billionaire CEOs. In the richest country in the history of the world, you shouldn’t have to worry about the cost of health care.
For information about how federal benefits and services will be impacted, you can explore government shutdown resources on my website here.
Hands Off Oregon Cities
President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that they were going to send the Oregon National Guard into Portland. This decision has been strongly opposed by Governor Tina Kotek, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and local leaders in Portland. Oregon is not a war zone; it is our home. The National Guard members are our neighbors, family, and community members whose lives have been unnecessarily uprooted for this deployment. The National Guard is not a civilian police force. The roughly $10 million that would be spent on this deployment would be much better used tackling housing affordability, mental health access, economic development, or increasing access to apprentice training programs in our state, but instead will be wasted on this gross overreach of power.
This mobilization, and similar ones from L.A. to Washington, D.C., have been struck down time and time again by federal judges. Every American has the constitutionally protected right to protest peacefully and speak their mind. I am confident that Oregonians will show the country how we peacefully and respectfully make our voices heard.
I joined a letter to President Trump, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem, and Defense Secretary Hegseth urging them to not deploy troops in Portland and withdraw any newly deployed military personnel and federal agents, and I am also encouraged by Judge Karin Immergut’s ruling to temporarily delay the deployment.
We Are Here to Serve You
My team is available to you if you need assistance or are having trouble with a federal agency. Reach out on our website to file a casework request or give us a call. Whether you are having trouble getting your tax refund, need assistance accessing your Social Security or VA benefits, or are experiencing difficulties with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – we are here to help.
If you have any questions, reactions, or priorities you’d like to share with me, don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Talk soon!
Val
U.S. Representative Val Hoyle
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September Recap
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CONSTITUENT SPOTLIGHTSDo you know of an incredible person doing great work to help their community? Representative Hoyle wants to recognize and honor residents in Oregon’s 4th District for their contributions. Click here to nominate someone you know who you think should be recognized for their service. |
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