Representative Scott Peters

Dear [salutation],

Today is day 24 of the shutdown, now the second longest shutdown in our history and with no end in sight. During previous shutdowns, Members of Congress were required to stay in Washington to vote as negotiations went on, which meant we were talking constantly about how to end the shutdown. This time, Speaker Johnson cancelled votes indefinitely and sent us all home, so there are no discussions happening. We need to be talking and we need Leader Thune and Speaker Johnson to act as the independently elected leaders of a co-equal branch of government that they are, rather than waiting for President Trump to give them permission to negotiate with Democrats.

This week, I joined Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI-04) and the Concord Coalition's Facing the Future podcast to discuss our No Budget No Pay Act to ensure Members of Congress face the same consequences of a shutdown as federal workers and servicemembers.

The consequences of the shutdown for San Diegans are only growing more dire.

Shutdown Effects in San Diego

Roughly 395,000 people in San Diego County rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which are 100% funded by the federal government. Because the shutdown has lasted this long, November’s CalFresh - the program that administers SNAP in California - benefits will be delayed, and payments may not be available on EBT cards starting November 1st. That’s nearly 400,000 people who will not have enough to eat.

Residents needing immediate food assistance can get free meals from the San Diego Food Bank and Feeding San Diego, which are preparing for the heightened demand. Governor Newsom plans to deploy California’s National Guard and volunteers to assist local food banks, who are already working to meet the needs of military families, TSA employees, and other federal workers affected by the shutdown.

Additionally, open enrollment - the period when Americans choose a health insurance plan - also begins on November 1st. In CA-50 alone, 18,936 people will lose access to health coverage because of Medicaid cuts in Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill and 9,500 people will lose coverage because of Republicans’ refusal to extend health care tax credits.

San Diegans Share their Thoughts

I’m grateful to San Diegans who have shared their experiences with me so I can advocate for their concerns in Washington. Here’s what I’m hearing:

A gentleman in Del Mar wrote in that his “Medicare prescription drug plan premium for 2026 is increasing from $ 115.40/month in 2025 to $165.40/month, a 43% increase – that's almost $2000/year. How can that be? I didn't expect my premiums to go down, but I certainly didn't expect such a drastic increase, if any.”

A single mother in Coronado shared that her “2026 premium notice just arrived. It has jumped to $2,538.30 per month, with an individual out-of-pocket maximum of $9,800. For a single mom, this is unsustainable. And yet, having lived through catastrophic illness, I know going uninsured isn’t an option. Our healthcare system should not punish families for being self-employed. It should not block access to the best care simply because of state lines. And it should not bury patients in administrative red tape when they are fighting for their lives.”

A family in San Diego told me they “are finding that Covered CA health insurance premiums for 2026 are going up by about 300%. The insurance company is increasing its premium by about 20% and now the subsidy is gone, causing 18000$ increase for the year. How can a self-employed family like ours can afford such an increase?”

Find a detailed FAQ on what a shutdown means for essential services and San Diego families here.

Has the shutdown affected you? Share your story with me here.

One Step Closer to Fixing our Forests

Graphics explaining what the Fix Our Forests Act does

This week, the Senate Agriculture Committee overwhelmingly passed my bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act. Wildfires are the single largest source of particulate pollution in the United States. We must treat this like the national emergency it is and take action to expedite critical forest management projects and protect our communities on the frontlines of wildfires. The House passed this legislation in January, and it will now go to the full Senate for a final vote. I look forward to getting this evidence-based solution across the finish line.

Demanding Answers from ICE

On Monday, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52) and I attempted to conduct Congressional oversight at the downtown San Diego courthouse following reports of ICE detainees being held improperly. We were denied access to their holding facility and ICE refused to answer my questions about how many people were being held there and under what conditions. Their actions raise suspicions, and I will continue to demand answers. Only 8% of people detained by ICE under the Trump Administration have been convicted of a violent crime. Terrorizing law-abiding, hardworking people hurts everyone in our community and creates an economic crisis.

Finally, I aim for this newsletter to be an informative, fact-based recap of what’s happening in Washington and the work I’m doing to address what’s important to San Diego. If you know folks who would appreciate these updates like you do, please feel free to forward this email or encourage them to sign up to receive them here.

Thanks, and take care.

Scott H. Peters
Member of Congress

Shutdown Effects in San Diego

San Diegans Share their Thoughts

One Step Closer to Fixing our Forests

Demanding Answers from ICE

Stay Updated