As a Catholic Christian, I see that the poor are affected, especially children who need the Head Start program; the lunch programs for the kids who don't have enough money are also cut. And, worst of all, I know it is because the Tea Party and others want to dismantle or defund the Affordable Care Act. Doing that will hurt millions of people who cannot afford healthcare like regular annual checkups and doctor visits which could prevent a terminal illness like the one that happened to a dear friend. He works every day, is self-employed, and is not a "bum" or on welfare, but ended up with advanced prostate cancer, because he couldn't afford regular doctor visits or an annual checkup. Medicaid is paying for his treatment, but it could have been far cheaper to have caught the disease much earlier, and treatment would have most likely saved his life. We know there are many others like our friend who would have caught an illness, like diabetes or cancer, early. Some might not even get an illness if they have regular healthcare, like free mammograms, thanks to the ACA. And some Republicans want to stop all that.

Head Start and other programs that I work with through my job at the Federation of Child Care Centers of Alabama have been affected by this terrible bit of decision (not) making on your part. We will not stand for this behavior. Shape up or get shipped out. Americans will not forget this, Ms. Roby. You are my representative and I hope that you are sincere in your desire to listen to my needs and concerns. Please know that I do not feel well served by you at all.

The economic harm caused by the shutdown and looming debt ceiling debacle affect every single American. Every day the shutdown continues, the cost increases, adding to the deficit and debt. That fact alone should motivate Republicans to end their intransigence. The risk to national security, and the safety and security of all Americans, is unthinkable. Neither a shutdown nor refusal to raise the debt limit are viable options for a functioning government. Either can only occur when Congress has failed to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities. As deliberate tactics, they are desperate, dangerous, treasonous acts.

Mortgage companies require federal paperwork in order to fund loans; these are being held up. People who were just recovering from the last Republican debacle are now being subjected to another unnecessary impasse. Outrageous.

My niece only has me left to help her. I am a disabled veteran on a fixed income. She has two children. I can't afford daycare or the $700.00 formula for her baby when WIC is closed in Texas. Republican extremism has impacted me. Shame on you for voting to shut down the government.

Republican extremism has impacted me: My clients are unable to do business overseas because vital approvals cannot be accessed even when the approval is already done, as offices are shut down. And court dates have had to be rescheduled after years of preparation because government attorneys are not present.

Republican extremism has impacted me in this way:

Republican extremism has impacted me in this way:

Republican extremism has impacted too many of my fellow citizens and is having a devastating effect on our economy. Please stop this unnecessary bickering and send a clean bill to the Senate to approve funding. The Affordable Care Act is now law. It's time the reasonable members of the Republican party, like Senator McCain, stepped up and insisted on approving the Senate's version of the bill.

Tea party Republicans have held our government hostage for too long! During that time, more than 800,000 government employees have been unable to work, 3,200 children have been locked out of Head Start, and 401 national parks have been closed to the public. We've had enough -- it's time to end the shutdown, raise the debt ceiling and help America move forward.

I am a federal employee who has been furloughed. My wife is also a federal employee who is working but not getting paid. We'll be okay for a bit but going from two incomes to one will eventually be devastating. We have three kids and we just found out our middle child may need heart surgery, which will of course require a lot of out-of-pocket costs even after insurance. Please do your job and pass a budget.

I retired on October 1 and I should be getting my first Social Security payment. But my announcement letter and my first payment are held up. Worse yet, I was not billed for my Medicare as before. It should be taken out of my Social Security payment. I can't get any help in finding out what to do now. You hold an important position in the House. Tell your Tea Party colleagues to do right by the American people. Vote a clean bill now.