Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) has written an op-ed addressing the ongoing federal government shutdown and its effects on West Virginians. In her statement, Miller criticized Senate Democrats for their role in the shutdown and highlighted how it is affecting families, small businesses, and federal employees in her state.
“All too often in Washington, politicians make decisions without understanding the real-world consequences for everyday Americans. We are witnessing that in real time with the ongoing government shutdown led by Senator Schumer and the Democrats, who have once again chosen to put political agendas ahead of the livelihoods of their constituents,” Miller wrote.
She argued that essential government programs are not being funded because lawmakers are prioritizing other policies. “Instead of working to fund essential programs that keep our government agencies running, they have prioritized policies that benefit illegal immigrants over hardworking Americans. Meanwhile, men and women across the nation, especially in rural West Virginia, are bearing the cost. With government operations stalled, families are losing access to vital services, paychecks are being delayed, and small businesses and farms are struggling to make ends meet as support programs remain frozen.”
Miller expressed concern about delays or denials in flood insurance and disaster assistance for West Virginians affected by severe flooding earlier this year. She said this lack of support could directly harm family-owned farms and rural landowners.
“Mountaineers, in particular, will bear the burden of the left’s misplaced priorities, facing delays or even denials in flood insurance and disaster assistance. After the severe flooding that struck West Virginia earlier this year, it’s deeply concerning that so many families and farmers are now left without the coverage and support they need to protect their homes and livelihoods. This failure will directly harm family-owned farms and rural landowners who depend on these programs to recover and rebuild when disaster strikes,” she stated.
Miller noted that a Continuing Resolution passed by the House would address these needs but accused Senate Democrats of refusing to pass similar measures.
“The current, clean Continuing Resolution (CR) passed by the House prioritizes the needs of our farmers and ensures that resources stay where they belong, which is supporting hardworking Americans, not illegal immigrants. While House Republicans have done our job, Democrats in the Senate would rather play political games and punish American workers than pass the same type of measure they supported more than a dozen times under the Biden Administration,” Miller said.
She also pointed out that more than 37,000 federal employees live in West Virginia—over 25,000 within her district—and many are missing paychecks due to the shutdown.
“On top of the lack of flood insurance and other disaster relief resources, tens of thousands of Mountaineers are now going without pay. West Virginia is home to more than 37,000 federal employees, with over 25,000 of them living right here in my district. As long as the government remains shut down, these dedicated public servants will continue to miss paychecks and struggle to support themselves and their families. This nonsense must end. We need to reopen the government and stand up for the people who work tirelessly to serve our communities,” she continued.
Small businesses across West Virginia—of which there are more than 100,000—are also feeling pressure from lost access to loans or contracts during this period.
“Small businesses will also feel the devastating impact of this shutdown. West Virginia is proud to be home to more than 100,000 small businesses, making up over 98% of all businesses in our state. These entrepreneurs are the backbone of our communities…they’re losing access to critical SBA loans…Without this assistance local economies across West Virginia face serious risk,” Miller added.
Carol Miller has represented West Virginia’s 1st District since 2019 after replacing Evan Jenkins [source]. Before serving in Congress she was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 until 2018. Born in Columbus Ohio in 1950 [bio], she currently lives in Huntington.
Miller concluded: “West Virginians know the value of hard work…This shutdown is far more than a political standoff; it’s a failure to put American people first…It’s time…to reopen government so we can focus on principles that built this nation.”
