Rep. Subramanyam hears concerns from public over federal shutdown

Most of the discussion centered on the partial shutdown of the federal government.

“It’s very difficult,” said Sharon, an employee at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who did not give her last name.

The shutdown created by Congress has left Sharon and fellow federal workers extremely stressed and worried about their futures.

“We’re still required to show up and go to work, as if it’s business as usual,” Sharon said. “And we’re still not getting paid.”

The meeting took place during the fourth day of the shutdown.

“When there’s this uncertainty in our federal government, it hurts our economy,” Subramanyam said.

The public had about 45 minutes to deliver their messages to the first-term Congressman.

“There’s definitely a lot of uncertainty,” said Jewelyn Cosgrove with Melwood Enterprises, a regional contractor for people with disabilities.

The non-profit organization helps people find jobs in areas like custodial work and grounds keeping,

“It’s a challenge to know what comes next, when you can’t get the kind of answers that you need from your leaders, and when you aren’t sure how the resolution is going to be reached,” Cosgrove said.

Rep. Subramanyam has declined to be paid during the shutdown.

He’s introduced a bill that would prevent lawmakers from being paid in similar situations in the future.

“The members need to feel the pain,” Subramanyam said. “They need to feel the discomfort of not getting a paycheck or two or five.”

Rep. Subramanyam plans to return to his Capitol Hill office on Monday, awaiting the end of the shutdown.