119th Congress

Washington, D.C. – This week, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) sent letters to the Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, and Rappahannock County Boards of Supervisors urging them to consider adopting car tax and personal property tax extensions to support residents financially affected by the government shutdown. On October 7, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution extending the property tax deadline from October 6 to November 5 for all residents.  

“The Republican shutdown has forced tens of thousands of Virginians into financial distress, with many due to miss paychecks as soon as next week,” said Congressman Subramanyam. “During these challenging times, I encourage our local governments to work flexibly with impacted federal workers, contractors, and businesses. I applaud the Fairfax County Board’s decision to put constituents first, and I urge the other local governments in our region to do the same.”

Under Virginia law, local governments have the authority to extend real estate and personal property tax deadlines by up to 90 days without incurring interest or late fees when “good cause” exists. Tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors could begin missing paychecks as soon as next week if the shutdown is not resolved.

Since the shutdown began, Congressman Subramanyam has introduced and supported several pieces of legislation to support impacted federal workers, contractors, businesses, and families, including: 

• The Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act: Provides and encourages best practices for banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions to work flexibly with people impacted by shutdowns.
• The Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act: Allows federal contractors affected by a government shutdown to withdraw funds from their retirement savings without being penalized.  

Here are the letters to Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, and Rappahannock Counties.

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Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) released a statement defending federal workers and their legally guaranteed backpay in response to a White House memo and statement made by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson implying that federal workers will not be receiving backpay. Federal law guarantees backpay to federal workers when the government reopens. 

“It's the law to pay furloughed federal workers their back pay. House Republican's own shutdown resources even confirm this,” said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. “This is just more evidence that the White House and House Republicans wanted this shutdown and are using it as another excuse to punish federal workers and contractors who keep our country safe. Instead, they should be negotiating an end to this shutdown and working with us to stop this healthcare crisis they created.” 

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Washington D.C. – This week, Congressman Subramanyam introduced two bills to alleviate the damage of the Republican shutdown of the federal government on federal employees, contractors, and all those impacted.

 The Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act protects federal employees, contractors, and others from the financial impacts of a government shutdown by providing and encouraging best practices for banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions to work flexibly with people impacted by shutdowns. The Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act would allow federal contractors affected by a government shutdown to withdraw funds from their retirement savings without being penalized.

“House Republicans would rather shut down the government and mass fire federal employees than come to the table to negotiate a bipartisan funding agreement that protects people’s health care and stops misguided cuts,” said Congressman Subramanyam. “Our constituents should not pay the price for Washington's dysfunction, and these bills offer financial relief to the federal workers and contractors who will be hurt the most by the Republican shutdown.” 

Virginia’s 10th Congressional District is home to over 36,000 federal workers and thousands more government contractors. Congressman Subramanyam introduced these bills after listening to constituent stories of the impacts in previous shutdowns, such as the 35-day shutdown caused by President Trump in 2018 and 2019.

Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act

The Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act would protect federal workers and contractors from financial harm during government shutdowns. During previous shutdowns, these individuals have suffered financial hardship through no fault of their own. In addition to the stress of being furloughed or working without pay, federal workers and contractors found themselves in danger of being denied mortgage and loan applications, missing monthly payments, and having adverse information hurt their credit score, affecting both regular financial transactions and security clearance investigations. 

Congressman Subramanyam’s bill, originally introduced and passed through the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton in 2019, would require federal financial regulators, such as the Federal Reserve, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and National Credit Union Association, to proactively issue guidance to financial institutions concerning government shutdowns within 180 days of enactment. This guidance would instruct these institutions to:

• Recognize that consumers and businesses affected by a shutdown may lose access to credit and face temporary hardship in making payments on debts such as mortgages, student loans, car loans, business loans, or credit cards
• Consider prudent efforts to modify terms on existing loans or extend new credit to help consumers and businesses affected by a shutdown, consistent with safe-and-sound lending practices
• Take steps to prevent adverse information being reported and utilized in any manner that harms consumers affected by a shutdown, including by preventing modified credit arrangements intended to help consumers fulfill their financial obligations from being reported to, and coded by, consumer reporting agencies on a consumer’s credit report in a manner that hurts the creditworthiness of the consumer

Regulators would be required to issue a joint press release to alert financial institutions, consumers, and businesses of the existence of this guidance no later than 24 hours after the start of a shutdown.

This legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11).

Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act 

The Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act would allow federal contractors to make withdrawals from their retirement accounts without incurring the 10 percent early distribution penalty. Under current law, retirement savers who are age 59 ½ or younger may be subject to an additional 10 percent early withdrawal penalty for withdrawing funds from their retirement accounts. The bill waives the 10 percent fee for up to $30,000 in disbursements, providing emergency relief to contractors, many of whom are not paid during shutdowns and do not receive back pay afterwards.

In order to restore workers’ retirement savings after the shutdown ends, the Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act would allow government contractors who take a hardship distribution from their retirement plans or an early distribution from their IRAs during a shutdown to recontribute some or all of the distribution (up to $30,000) within a three-year period.

For government contractors who choose not to recontribute their qualified shutdown distribution, this bill would allow such individuals to include the amount of their qualified shutdown distributions ratably over a three-taxable-year period.

This legislation was also introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). The House bill is cosponsored by Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11) and April McClain Delaney (D-MD-6) . 

Congressman Subramanyam is also a co-sponsor of: 

• The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act, requiring backpay for federal contractors
• The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act, allowing penalty free withdrawals from federal workers’ retirement accounts during a shutdown
• The No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act, to withhold member pay during government shutdowns.
• The Securing Assurance for Federal Employees (SAFE) Act, to prohibit RIFs during a shutdown.
• The Help FEDS Act, allowing federal employees to receive unemployment insurance during a government shutdown

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Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), who represents over 36,000 federal workers and contractors, announced he will not take pay during the Republican government shutdown. Congressman Subramanyam is championing legislation to halt pay for members of Congress during shutdowns and provide resources and benefits for federal workers and contractors during this period.  

“Government shutdowns are devastating to Virginia families and small businesses. While Republicans force this shutdown and federal workers and contractors go without pay, I will not accept a paycheck and will continue to stand up for the men and women who protect our communities,” said Congressman Subramanyam. “This shutdown was completely avoidable, and I will continue to fight for Virginians hurt by Republicans' inability to pass a budget.”  

View the full letter here.

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Washington DC – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Ranking Member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversights Subcommittee, and Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia (CA-42) sent a letter to Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding accountability regarding reports that he has ordered hundreds of generals and admirals in the U.S. Armed Forces leave their posts and gather in Quantico, Virginia, for what has been reported to be a short speech from Secretary Hegseth. It was reported earlier today that President Trump will also attend this gathering, adding additional cost and security concerns.

The representatives argued that the unprecedented concentration of military leadership in one location is both a national security threat and waste of potentially millions of dollars of taxpayer resources to conduct what could be a virtual meeting or pre-recorded video message. They also raised concerns of politicization of the military and the potential use of senior military officers as political props.

“This unprecedented concentration of military leadership in one location, at one time, raises grave concerns about national security, waste of taxpayer resources, and the politicization of our military institutions,” the members said. “In light of these concerns, we demand that the administration justify its decision to pursue what we believe to be a dangerous and wasteful stunt.”

The members asked for immediate answers back to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability by no later than October 14, 2025 concerning: 

1. The costs associated with this meeting, including travel, lodging, base operations, security and communications.
2. A detailed assessment of the operational risks and mitigation plans associated with withdrawing senior commanders and staff from active command responsibilities, as well as concentrating them in one location.
3. A formal statement of immediate and long-term objectives for the meeting.
4. A detailed assessment of alternative means for this speech (such as secure video teleconference or pre-recorded video message) and the rationale for choosing an in‑person event over these more secure and cost-effective options.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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Washington D.C.  – This week, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) announced a new constituent casework milestone in his service to the people of Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. Since taking office, Congressman Subramanyam’s office has closed 1,793 constituent casework requests and has helped return over $2 million to Northern Virginians.

“Saving constituents money and alleviating hardship has been my top priority in Congress,” said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. “From veterans benefits to visa assistance, my team and I are always honored to serve and encourage constituents to reach out to us for assistance.”

Congressman Subramanyam and his staff are able to help constituents retrieve benefits they are owed by the federal government by reaching out to federal agencies on their behalf. They specialize in handling any and all issues involving federal agencies, including Social Security and Medicare, veterans’ benefits, IRS issues, passports and visas, small business assistance, federal retiree benefits, and federal grants and loans.

While Congressman Subramanyam’s office cannot always guarantee a favorable outcome, staff will always work to ensure that constituents receive quality service and a fair and timely response to their problem. Please find a link here to the services Congressman Subramanyam’s office offers, along with how to submit a request for assistance. 

Congressman Subramanyam’s offices are available by phone weekdays during business hours or via email using the contact page on his website. 

• For appointments in Washington, DC please call: (202) 225-5136
• For appointments in either Manassas and Leesburg, please call: (703) 236-1300

Congressman Subramanyam’s office regularly hosts mobile office hours to meet constituents where they’re at and get them the assistance they deserve. To hear about Congressman Subramanyam’s next mobile office hours, please sign up for his newsletter here. 

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Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) and Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase access to justice for survivors of child sexual abuse, assault, and trafficking. The Statutes of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act would incentivize states to eliminate civil and criminal statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. The legislation authorizes $20 million in grants for states that implement these reforms and allow survivors to seek justice on their own terms and timeline. 

Approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys suffer child sexual abuse. Historically, nearly 90 percent of child victims never report their abuse to the authorities, and the majority of victims are unable to come forward and hold their abusers accountable due to expired claims. Many survivors don’t come forward until they are 50 years old or older, well beyond the expiration of the statute of limitations. 

“Child sexual abuse survivors should be able to come forward and seek justice without a deadline,” said Congressman Subramanyam. “We must take legislative steps to support survivors instead of upholding a system that works against them. Far too many child abuse survivors have been denied justice due to these arbitrary barriers. I am proud to lead legislation that empowers child abuse survivors and holds abusers accountable.”

“Survivors of child sexual abuse often carry their pain in silence for decades. Too many are denied justice because the clock runs out before they are ready to speak,” said Congresswoman Elvira Salazar. “This bill says loud and clear: time will never protect predators, and the law will never fail survivors again. I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to give victims their day in court, make sure monsters who abuse children can never hide behind legal loopholes, and protect children across America.”

“Every survivor of childhood sexual abuse deserves the chance to seek justice when they are ready. For too long, time has been a shield for child abusers and a ticking clock for survivors.” said Stefan Turkheimer, Vice President of Public Policy at RAINN. “The Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act recognizes that healing does not have a time limit and keeps a path open for survivors to bring those responsible to justice.”

Visit here to see the full bill text.

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Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Subramanyam voted against House Republicans’ Continuing Resolution (CR) and issued the following statement: 

“I cannot in good conscience support a measure that will continue to cause Virginians so much hardship. House Republicans, with full control of government, have decided to risk a shutdown by passing a measure that will raise health care costs and only continue the firing of federal workers and contractors.

Instead, I will fight efforts to take away people’s access to affordable healthcare, and I will not accept partisan measures that cut vital federal programs and fire federal workers en masse. My hope is that House Republicans will instead come to the table and negotiate a bipartisan plan to avoid a shutdown.”