Senator Adam Schiff urges Congress to avoid government shutdown during Oceanside visit 

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — As Congress attempts to pass its funding package, Senator Adam Schiff joined healthcare professionals at an Oceanside clinic on Thursday to discuss the possibility of a government shutdown.  

Democrats are advocating to reverse cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) made by the Trump Administration. Members of Congress have failed to reach an agreement which may result in a shutdown if a spending package cannot pass by Sept. 30. 

“We are days away from Donald Trump shutting down the government and we are weeks away from millions of people getting notices in the mail that their health insurance premiums are skyrocketing,” Schiff added. 

Medical professionals, Schiff and Representative Mike Levin (D-49) held the press conference at the Oceanside TrueCare Mission Mesa Clinic to discuss how cuts to Medicaid and the ACA will affect residents. 

“A family of four in Oceanside could see their health insurance go up by almost a thousand dollars,” Schiff said. “I hope the President and Republicans in Congress will come back to the table and end the crisis. Because if they don’t, millions of Americans will suffer.”  

He added that more than 20 million Americans may see their healthcare premiums increase if Congress does not extend tax credits. Schiff also said that 600,000 Californians are at risk of losing their healthcare coverage.  

Republican leadership maintains that if the government were to face a shutdown, Democrats who vote no to the Republican spending package are responsible. 

“Democrats are holding the AMERICAN government HOSTAGE — in an attempt to give FREE health care to NONCITIZENS, which was just outlawed by Congress,” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson posted to social media. 

Alongside Democratic leadership, Schiff believes that by cutting healthcare access, Republicans are responsible.  

“Solve the crisis that you created,” Schiff said. “Don’t send people a bill for a thousand dollars more because of these cuts you just made.” 

Levin, who represents North County San Diego, has previously stated that a shutdown could lose his district upwards of $16.5 million in project funding. 

“I am ready to return to Washington right now to work to prevent a shutdown and protect the services that San Diego families depend on,” Levin said. “And while I will keep working in good faith, I will not compromise health care for my constituents.”  

CEO and President of TrueCare Michelle D. Gonzalez and Critical Care Physician Dr. Will Tseng shared their perspective at the press conference. Tseng said that if Congress continues to cut health coverage, their constituents will continue to pay the price.  

“If Congress fails to act, the harm will be real: children without care, families without doctors, communities without hospitals,” Tseng said. “It will be every physician’s nightmare – standing at a bedside knowing the harm was preventable if only someone had acted sooner.” 

President Donald Trump was scheduled to meet with Democratic leadership this week to negotiate the spending package before abruptly canceling, leaving both parties in a stalemate.  

“With Trump and GOP leadership refusing to talk, we are on the verge of a destructive shutdown,” Schiff added. “Their massive cuts to Medicaid and the ACA have left us with an impending crisis in health care.”