Amy Klobuchar: “we are now in day 8 of the government shutdown, and the pain has been felt by all across the country--by the cancer…”

“we are now in day 8 of the government shutdown, and the pain has been felt by all across the country--by the cancer patients being denied access to new clinical trials at NIH, by the mom whose son has muscular dystrophy. His name is Jackson. She told me that every day those researchers aren't working on a cure for her son's disease is a day lost. She said every day counts. Small businesses can't get affordable loans through the SBA. Farmers write me about not being able to get their conservation loans. I have here a letter I read on the floor on Saturday: Please do whatever you can to stop the government shutdown. We have 14 acres of land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Our rental payment is made to us this first week of October. We depend on this money. It is not a small amount for our family. Kathy, from Minnesota: I am an employee of the Social Security Administration, Office of Disability . . . I have seen you intervene on matters for claimants who have disability hearings pending. I am furloughed as part of the government shutdown. If you want your constituents' hearings addressed, I need to be at work in my office. Alicia, from Hastings, MN: I am writing to express my extreme concern over the federal government shutdown. I am a teacher, a mother of three boys, and the wife of a furloughed veteran who works for the Minnesota Air National Guard.…”