Dear East Texas,
It’s Week Two of the Schumer Shutdown—and while much of Washington, DC has ground to a halt, my team and I are still on the job serving the people of Texas’s First District.
Let’s cut through the noise and talk about what’s really going on. Let me be clear about a position I have held since coming to Congress: a government shutdown does not benefit the taxpayer. It generally costs more money than keeping the government open. It interferes with many of the services that taxpayers want to see continue. It results in those serving in the military, national security positions, homeland security agents, and others designated as “essential” being required to work without pay during the shutdown, while many others who are furloughed are sent home, perform no work, but ultimately receive pay when the shutdown ends (pursuant to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019).
So, a resolution to this shutdown is needed and is in the best interest of the taxpayer. I want you to know that Republicans are acting reasonably to achieve that goal, and I will continue to do the same. However, the negative consequences of a short-term shutdown cannot justify the House agreeing to long-term policies that are not in the best interest of the taxpayer. |
Click the image to watch my video on the Government Shutdown Part 1 |
We passed a clean, 24-page bill that kept the government open at current funding levels for a mere 7-weeks while Republicans and Democrats worked out remaining policy differences. No new spending. No hidden deals. Just common sense.
Then the Senate blocked it—7 times, and counting.
Instead, Senate Democrats are demanding $1.5 trillion in new spending and a permanent extension of pandemic-era health care subsidies that were always meant to expire. The Congressional Budget Office says their plan would cost taxpayers over $400 billion.
So when you hear talk of a “Republican shutdown,” remember: House Republicans voted to keep the government open with a clean, non-partisan, continuing resolution that Democrats have voted for on 3 separate occasions in the past thirteen months, in September 2024, December 2024, and March 2025. It’s the Democrats’ own continuing resolution that continues funding as it was in Biden’s last year as President—still Democrats won’t vote for it!! Instead, Senate Democrats—who are the ones blocking passage—have voted repeatedly to keep the government closed. |
Click the image to watch my video on the Government Shutdown Part 2 |
In East Texas, health care is personal. Rural hospitals aren’t a luxury—they’re a lifeline.
That’s why the Rural Health Transformation Fund that Republicans funded through the Working Families Tax Cuts (aka OBBB) invests $50 billion to make rural America healthy again: keeping hospitals open, attracting skilled and qualified medical professionals, and improving prevention and chronic disease management.
Those rural health investments came from the Working Families Tax Cuts (aka OBBB), and they’re needed for East Texas communities. But, Democrats are insisting that we get rid of the Rural Health Transformation Fund as part of their unreasonable demands to re-open government. We’re not going to give in and let them win this demand. |
Click the image to watch my video on the Government Shutdown Part 3 |
Before this year, the federal health-care system was riddled with fraud—millions of fake or duplicate enrollees, costing taxpayers billions.
The One, Big, Beautiful Bill put a stop to that nonsense. It requires annual eligibility checks, ends automatic re-enrollment, and makes sure every dollar goes to real patients instead of bureaucratic waste.
That’s how the government ought to work—accountable, efficient, and on the side of taxpayers. But, Democrats are demanding that we take out these eligibility reforms as part of their unreasonable demands to re-open the government. They’d rather return to a system where we turn a blind-eye to eligibility and keep heaping more and more burden on the taxpayer. |
Click the image to watch my video on the Government Shutdown Part 4 |
Don’t believe the lies: The original Obamacare subsidies aren’t going anywhere. Democrats won’t tell you that, but the thing that they are complaining about are the temporary, COVID-era enhanced “Biden Credits” for Obamacare plans that they established in 2020 specifically for the pandemic and that they set to expire at the end of 2025. Now, they want to make this temporary program permanent at a cost of $400 Billion.
Democrats also won’t tell you that their expanded COVID-era subsidies didn’t help everyday Americans—they only helped to pad the profits of the large insurance companies that offer ACA plans. In the past five years, premiums for ACA plans have skyrocketed for the consumer, while profits for insurance companies have reached all-time highs. That’s no surprise—government subsidies almost always drive up prices and distort the free market.
Bottom line: Democrats are choosing politics over people, while Republicans are choosing to stand firm in our resolve to protect rural hospitals, cut waste, and work to benefit you, not DC liberals and not big insurance companies.
East Texans sent me here to speak truth over politics—and that’s exactly what I’m doing.
If you want to read more about this topic and other solutions that would actually benefit hard-working Americans by reducing health insurance premiums without spending more money in subsidies that don’t work, read Rep. Jodey Arrington’s (TX-19) recent op-ed on this issue, here. |
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Should temporary COVID-era Obamacare subsidies be allowed to expire as planned — instead of being made permanent at a cost of $400 billion to taxpayers?
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East Texans Believe in Accountability |
In last week’s newsletter I surveyed our weekly readers: “Do you believe taxpayer-funded health care subsidies should continue going to people who don’t qualify or don’t use their coverage?” The results speak for themselves: 91% of the 1,000+ respondents said NO to continuing taxpayer-funded health care subsidies for people who don’t qualify for coverage.
The Democrats and liberal media continue to spread false narratives about health care, but East Texans cannot be swayed by political talking points. The waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs is not what hard-working taxpayers voted for.
The Working Families Tax Cuts prohibits the federal government from reimbursing states for Medicaid or CHIP for illegal immigrants. It also restricts Medicare eligibility to United States citizens and limits who can receive premium tax credits. Democrats are currently trying to repeal this legislation in their partisan government funding bill.
Why do Democrats continue to put American citizens last? It is evident that East Texans aren’t falling for their false narrative. |
An East Texan's Gift to America |
This week, I had the honor of welcoming Richard Palmer, a U.S. Air Force veteran from East Texas to Washington, D.C.
Earlier this year, Richard spent more than 200 hours handcrafting a five-foot wooden American flag made entirely from East Texas wood. Each board was carefully shaped, sanded, and stained by hand—a labor of love that reflects both his skill and his deep patriotism.
Richard didn’t stop there. He loaded the flag into his truck and drove it all the way from East Texas to our nation’s capital, where we met on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to honor his work and the ideals it represents. Together, we delivered this remarkable piece to the White House staff so that it can be presented to President Donald J. Trump—a fitting home for a symbol made by one of America’s finest.
Standing beside Richard in front of the Capitol reminded me of what makes East Texas so special—hard work, faith, and a fierce love for our country. His flag isn’t just art; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of American freedom. |
Remembering October 7th, 2023 |
On October 7th, 2023, Hamas barbarically invaded Israel and tortured, beat, killed, and kidnapped innocent civilians. Two years after these horrific attacks, 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with 26 of them confirmed dead. This week—on the two year anniversary—I spent time in DC with released hostages and families of hostages bringing attention to the continued need to bring these hostages home and to find an end to this conflict. |
President Trump laid out a 20-point plan to end the Gaza-Israel War. Since its introduction, the plan has garnered global support. And, it looks as though all of the parties are going to agree to this plan to bring an end to the conflict. |
On October 9, 1888, the Washington Monument officially opened to the public. Built of granite and faced with Maryland marble, it weighs around 91,000 tons and honors President George Washington. Although the capstone was placed in 1884, the monument didn't open until 1888, after a steam elevator was installed to help visitors avoid climbing its 897 steps. |
Dealing with federal agencies can be complicated, and my office is here to help. If you need help with Social Security, the IRS, passport renewals, the VA, or other federal agencies, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by calling (903) 561-6349 or visiting my website.
It is an honor to be your voice in Congress.
With gratitude, |
Nathaniel Moran Member of Congress |
Answer to Last Week's Texas Trivia Question
⬇️ Before it was renamed for Stephen F. Austin, the capital city of Texas was named after a famous European battle. What was the city's original name? |
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This Week's Texas Trivia Question What famous slogan started from an anti-litter campaign? Check back next week for the answer! |
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