1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

Vote NO this week on the continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of this fiscal year unless Republicans make significant concessions. This means they must remove the provisions that give even more executive power to Trump and Musk and their law breaking crew. Vote NO even if it leads to a government shutdown. If it does, that shutdown is on REPUBLICANS. It will be their fault, and you need to be unequivocally clear that it WAS their fault. This CR is a Trojan Horse that gives Trump and Musk outright permission to keep slashing spending, regardless of the law or the Constitution. This CR is the only leverage we have to pressure Republicans to stop serving a dictator and START serving the American people. I have not yet seen the kind of fight I expect from Democrats as a whole. I expect you to bring that fight to the GOP. If Republicans can't pass the CR in the House, that is on them. And in the Senate, where 60 votes are required for passage, the same holds true. I urge you to vote NO unless the Republicans make significant changes: Demand that Republicans stop harming Americans by letting this lawless authoritarian administration have its way. Force them to remove all the provisions that expand executive power, everything that reduces benefits people expect, and definitely anything that continues the Trump tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Force them to actually reign in the lawlessness! Force them to grow a spine. And please show me yours. I support you in this, and so do the majority of your constituents. You are the last guardrail, so do NOT squander your power in the name of "working across the aisle.” Republicans dropped all pretense of working with Democrats years ago. Yet Democrats have held onto decorum and bipartisanship, despite the fact that Republicans killed both long ago. It's about time Democrats actually fought back, tooth and nail. Stand firm and point the finger of blame—of responsibility—back at Republicans. I am watching along with your other constituents. Please bring the fight to this CR in every way you can. Then—and this is extremely important—channel AOC, Jasmine Crockett, and Chris Murphy, and make some engaging (not lecture-like) videos for YouTube explaining what you're doing to fight for us. Quick ones, down to earth, in simple language, but with heart. Then spread them all over social media. Your constituents are here to support you making difficult moves and taking hard votes, but we need to see your leadership. It's engaging social media clips that accomplish this these days, like it or not. Seeing the fighting spirit in you will bring the public out to protest in ever-increasing numbers, which I know you need in order to break the back of this corrupt administration. I support your efforts! Bring that fight! Please vote NO on the CR unless the Republicans make the significant concessions outlined above. Thank you!