lawmakers return to Capitol Hill with three weeks until government shut down Congress is racing against the clock with just 3 weeks left to prevent a massive government shutdown but here's the twist a controversial plan that could change the way Americans vote is at the center of it all will lawmakers strike a deal in time or are we headed for chaos right before the November elections stay tuned this is the update you need to hear hey there money mavens welcome to money Madness your ultimate source for all things Social Security and new stimulus checks I'm Lauren and in this video we'll uncover the latest developments in Social Security including changes to retirement benefits disability programs and important eligibility requirements so grab a cup of coffee sit back and let's unravel the Social Security scoop together lawmakers are back in action on Capitol Hill and let me tell you the pressure is on we are just 3 weeks away from a potential government shutdown that's right again this Monday officially marks the first day back for the house and the Senate after their month-long summer break but it's not all fun in games they've got until September 30th just a few weeks to figure out how to keep the government running the stakes nothing less than the daily functioning of countless Federal services that millions of Americans rely on so what's the plan well house Speaker Mike Johnson a republican from Louisiana has a proposal on the table he's pushing for a stop Gap funding bill basically a temporary fix to avoid the immediate crisis his proposal would keep the federal government funded until March 2025 giving lawmakers an extra 6 months to work out a more permanent solution and avoid an allout end of year standoff in Congress sounds pretty reasonable right just kick the can down the road a little and avoid any disruption for now but hold on there's a Twist and this twist is sparking serious controversy Johnson's plan might include what's being called a potential poison pill a provision that could throw a wrench into the whole thing the catch a proposal to require proof of citizenship for anyone registering to vote under this legislation States would need to start demanding proof of citizenship within just 30 days of the bill being passed right before the November election talk about timing now it's important to note that it's already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections here in the u s so why is this such a big deal well it's a major talking point for republic an and a key issue for former president Donald Trump he's made it one of the pillars of his presidential campaign despite independent studies showing there's no widespread evidence of illegal voting in federal elections still this topic has ignited Fierce debates and could add a whole new level of tension to the upcoming election and it's not just Republicans pushing for this Democrats including vice president Cala Harris are pushing back hard President Joe Biden himself has stepped in making it crystal clear that he's not on board with this proposal and even going as far as threatening to veto it but why is this such a big deal for starters many see it as an attempt to introduce new barriers to voting critics argue that requiring proof of citizenship could disproportionately impact marginalized communities making it harder for some eligible voters to register and participate in the Democratic process on the other hand proponents of the measure argue that it's about securing the Integrity of elections they claim that it's a necessary step to prevent any possibility of illegal voting even if the data shows that's not really an issue will there be a shutdown so while Congress scrambles to find common ground on this divisive issue the question remains will there be a shutdown right now the chances seem low but but nothing is certain the general election is just around the corner in November and neither party wants to be held responsible for the chaos a shutdown would bring the political Fallout could be disastrous especially in such a pivotal election year Republican senator John Corin of Texas weighed in on the situation during a recent appearance on Fox News Sunday expressing surprise at how the voting legislation has become such a divisive partisan an issue he did however suggest that a shutdown is unlikely echoing the hopes of many on Capitol Hill but let's not forget we've been in this situation before the clock is ticking and anything can happen What happens in a shutdown now let's talk about what could happen if the government does shut down it's not just a headline it has real tangible effects on people's lives first off tens of thousands of congressional staffers will be going without a paycheck for the duration of the shutdown yep while lawmakers themselves continue to work and receive their pay many of the people supporting them behind the scenes won't be so lucky that's a tough pill to swallow especially when you consider the high cost of living in and around Washington D C but that's not where it ends if Congress can't pass a spending bill by September 30 it's not just Capitol Hill that will be affected all federal agencies with a few notable exceptions will be forced to stop working the good news essential services like Medicare Social Security and the u s Postal Service will continue to operate however that doesn't mean the shutdown will be without consequences federal employees who are not deemed essential will be furloughed meaning they're temporarily out of a job without pay this could affect everything from processing government benefits like food assistance to closing down national parks and halting government funded research projects thinking about renewing your passport well you might have to put those travel plans on hold because passport applications could come to a grinding halt during a shutdown and that's just the tip of the iceberg air travel could also be affected though not in the way you might think air traffic controllers Customs agents and border patrol officers will still be working but they won't be getting paid during the shutdown and that could create some serious disruptions if it goes on for too long no pay no new training for air traffic controllers both of which could spell trouble for the airline industry and travelers a history of shutdowns believe it or not this wouldn't be the first time the federal government has shut down in fact it's happened at least 21 times over the last 50 years the last close call came in March 2024 when Congress passed a stop Gap measure with only hours to spare before a shutdown can you imagine the tension in those Final hours the longer a shutdown lasts the worse the impact becomes it's not just a matter of inconvenience it starts to hurt real people from government employees to families relying on federal programs not to mention it's a public relations nightmare for whichever party is blamed for letting it happen so what's next so what's next for congress with just weeks left until the deadline lawmakers are under immense pressure to come up with a solution the stakes couldn't be higher not only because of the potential disruption to everyday life but also because of the political Fallout as we head into a crucial election will they manage to pass the stop Gap funding bill in time or will the citizenship voting proposal cause a rift so deep that it leads us straight into a shutdown will the pressure of an upcoming election Force both parties to find common ground or are we headed for another chaotic standoff in Washington all eyes are on Capital Hill as the countdown continues we are in for an intense few weeks and the outcome could shape the rest of the year and the elections more than anyone can predict stay tuned for more updates as this drama unfolds we'll keep you posted on every Twist and Turn as we move closer to the deadline that's the end of today's video I will see you guys in the next video if 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