Pontiac Times

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) visited her district to observe the effects of the ongoing government shutdown, which she attributes to Democratic lawmakers. During her visit, McClain volunteered at a food bank, spoke with residents at a local restaurant, and toured Macomb County Emergency Management.

“Michigan families are paying the price for Democrats’ reckless shutdown. From struggling Michiganders who depend on SNAP to small businesses waiting on critical SBA funding, I saw firsthand the pain caused by Democrats’ political games,” Chairwoman McClain said. “It’s time for Democrats to stop using hardworking Michiganders as pawns and reopen the government.”

According to McClain, the shutdown is affecting several areas in Michigan: it is putting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at risk for 1.4 million people and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) payments for 189,000 mothers and children. The state is losing an estimated $361 million in economic activity each week due to the shutdown. In addition, about 56,000 federal workers are either furloughed or missing paychecks in Michigan, while approximately $92 million in loans to small businesses are being delayed.

Lisa McClain has represented Michigan’s 9th District in Congress since 2021 after succeeding Paul Mitchell. She was born in Stockbridge, Michigan in 1966 and currently resides in Bruce. McClain graduated from Northwood University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1997.