Hinson urges end to shutdown, defends filibuster in Cedar Rapids stop with veterans

CEDAR RAPIDS — Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson on Friday told a group of veterans gathered at the Freedom Foundation that her congressional office remains open and ready to help constituents despite the ongoing federal government shutdown — now the longest in U.S. history — as she urged Democrats to reopen the government and fund critical programs like SNAP food aid and military pay.

Speaking at the Freedom Foundation, a Cedar Rapids nonprofit that provides meals, fellowship, and services to veterans, Hinson said her staff continues to take casework requests and assist veterans navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs, even if responses from federal agencies are delayed.

Hinson, a Republican from Marion also running for U.S. Senate in 2026, praised the Freedom Foundation’s expanding services and encouraged veterans to connect directly with her Cedar Rapids staff for casework.

“Your tax dollars pay our office to stay open for you,” she said.

She discussed efforts to reach a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government, her opposition to simply extending Affordable Care Act subsidies without reforms, and her call to ensure continued funding for SNAP benefits, TSA pay and military salaries.

She also weighed in on the Trump administration’s move to block full November SNAP payments, the prospects for a Senate compromise, and why she believes the Senate filibuster should remain in place as a “guardrail” against partisan power swings.

Shutdown frustration and push for compromise

Hinson described the shutdown’s impacts as “tough,” pointing to delayed flights, unpaid TSA agents, and uncertainty for families relying on food assistance and veterans’ benefits.

“It’s the longest shutdown in history,” she said. “I voted to keep the government open, and I voted to keep SNAP benefits flowing, because now we have people who are going hungry who may have to utilize these food pantries.”

She said she remains on 24-hour standby to return to Washington if a funding deal is reached, adding that she sees progress in Senate negotiations but criticized what she called “posturing” by some Democrats.

“It seemed earlier this week like things were moving in the right direction,” Hinson said. “But I was disappointed to see some of the posturing out of a few members of the Senate now who are saying they want to extract more things.”

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Hinson defends filibuster as ‘guardrail’ for bipartisanship

Hinson said she supports maintaining the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold, calling it an essential guardrail that encourages bipartisan cooperation.

“As much as our country is divided, sometimes it forces us to work together and get a product across the finish line,” she said.

The filibuster, which requires 60 votes to advance most major legislation, has long been criticized as a procedural obstacle in a polarized Congress. Ending it — a move often referred to as the “nuclear option” — would allow the majority party to pass legislation with a simple majority, fundamentally changing the balance of power in the Senate.

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Hinson said she opposes such a move, warning it could have far-reaching consequences if Democrats regain full control of Congress. She said removing the rule could open the door to court-packing or granting statehood to new territories like Washington, D.C., or Puerto Rico — steps she and many Republicans argue would permanently tilt political power.

“We are in a really tough time in our country where people don’t seem to want to make a deal to get things done, and we’ve had to spend more money because the filibuster is in place,” Hinson said. “But I worry about what happens if the pendulum swings the other direction, and what that means for our country. Will Democrats, if they have no filibuster, stack the courts? Will they add two additional states, which means two Democrat senators from each of those states? So I think that there is a lot at stake that we need to be considering for some short-term gain over long-term pain.”

Hinson added that while the filibuster can slow legislative progress, it helps preserve “collegiality” and accountability in Congress.

“I understand why it’s there. It forces a little bit of collegiality to continue to exist in the institution of the Senate,” she said. “I’d like to see us work together. I’d like to see us spend less money, but I’d like to see us all work together.”

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Health care and ACA subsidies

Hinson reiterated her opposition to simply extending Affordable Care Act premium subsidies without reforms, saying the current framework “masks” rising health care costs.

“The problem here is that what they’re asking for is to just mask the cost of Obamacare, which is the ‘Unaffordable Care Act,’” she said. “It’s driven health care premiums up, and there’s no incentive on the insurance companies to actually lower premium costs.”

She added that while she supports efforts to lower prescription drug prices and promote transparency among pharmacy benefit managers, long-term reform requires keeping the government open.

Ensuring SNAP, TSA and military pay

Asked about the Trump administration seeking to block a court order requiring full SNAP payments this month, Hinson said the surest protection for food benefits is to reopen the government.

“Congress intervening would be the government staying open and these benefits being funded, which is what I voted for,” she said. “Five Democrats [need to] get on board right now and make sure that SNAP benefits would be going to people, TSA air traffic controllers [would] be getting paid, and our military would be getting paid.”

Hinson was referring to her vote for the House-passed stopgap funding bill — rejected by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday for the 14th time — that would have temporarily extended current spending levels set under former President Joe Biden to give lawmakers more time to negotiate full-year appropriations.

According to CBS News, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats were prepared to vote to end the shutdown if Republicans agreed to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for one year and open broader negotiations on health care costs — an offer Republicans dismissed as a “nonstarter.” Sen. John Thune, the GOP majority leader, called the proposal “terrible” and “political terrorism,” while noting the Senate would continue working through the weekend on a separate Republican-backed measure to ensure federal workers are paid during the shutdown.

The Senate’s expected 15th vote on the House continuing resolution is seen as key to unlocking longer-term spending bills and ending the record-breaking government shutdown, now on its 38th day.

Hinson said she backs mechanisms to prevent essential workers and programs from becoming leverage in future standoffs.

“I hate political games,” she said. “I’ve co-sponsored numerous pieces of legislation to make sure that we’re paying TSA agents and the military through shutdowns.”

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Fiscal responsibility and trade

Hinson pointed to the $38 trillion national debt and called for “forcing accountability back into the appropriations process,” criticizing ongoing funding for unauthorized programs and urging targeted investments.

On trade and tariffs, she said the goal is more trade deals to expand markets and, when appropriate, tariff actions that “level the playing field.”

Hinson emphasized that growing the economy is crucial for increasing government revenue and addressing the national debt.

“We have a spending problem and a revenue problem,” she said. “The best way to fix revenue is to grow the economy the right way.”

She explained that measures like tax cuts, permanent business deduction provisions and tax relief for overtime and tip income included in Republicans’ sweeping tax-and-spending plan can help boost economic activity and put more money in people’s pockets.

Hinson argued that, even if all discretionary federal spending were cut, the debt would continue to rise, making economic growth — paired with spending reductions — essential for long-term fiscal health. She used the analogy of turning an aircraft carrier, saying that meaningful fiscal change takes time but is necessary to steer the country onto a better path.

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