Volume 1 Issue 23 - October 13th, 2025
- Jess C's Mom
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
"There is more to life than simply increasing its speed" – Mahatma Gandhi
What's the Buzz?
Grab the fam and gather 'round the kitchen table! It's time to go over what this week is going to look like.
On the Home Front: National News & Your Family's Well-being
The Critical Issue: The Federal Government is SHUT DOWN (Day 13)
As of today, October 13, the federal government remains shut down, having commenced at 12:01 AM on October 1, 2025. Congressional negotiations continue to center on the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies and the overall spending levels for the 2026 fiscal year, with no end in sight.
What a Shutdown Means for Families NOW (Day 13 and Beyond):
Financial Cliff for Federal Workers: Approximately 900,000 federal employees remain furloughed, and another 700,000 are working without pay. While many non-profits (like our own Hive Social Garden) and community centers are stepping up, the uncertainty has entered its second full week, making loan payments, rent, and basic budgeting a crisis for many families right here in the D.C. area.
Essential Services Continue (For Now): Mandatory spending programs like Social Security, Medicare, and VA payments are still being issued. However, reduced services are hitting local Social Security offices and many VA facilities.
WIC and Nutrition: The WIC program (Women, Infants, and Children), which serves millions of low-income families, is now relying on state-level carryover funds. This program is on the list of those facing partial or full suspensions the longer the shutdown goes on. This is a severe threat to children's health.
Failing to Fix the Problem: Congressional activity has centered on competing bills that fail to reach the necessary consensus. Speaker Johnson announced a further extension of the House recess, delaying meaningful votes, while repeated Senate votes failed to pass a Continuing Resolution.
Where to Administer Pressure: The House has extended its recess, but the Senate is holding votes. The focus remains on getting Senators to pass a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that will reopen the government.
Make a Call: The Capitol switchboard is still operating at (202) 224-3121. Ask to be connected to your Senators and demand a deal that immediately ends the shutdown, ensuring back pay for federal workers and protecting vital family programs like WIC.
Public Safety and School Environments
Our local Northern Virginia school districts (FCPS, PWCS, LCPS) continue to navigate the implementation of new security and wellness programs. Domestic Violence Awareness Month in our community remains a top priority.
Focus on Home Safety (DVAM): Remember that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The stress of the government shutdown and the looming financial crisis are proven risk factors for increased domestic conflict. Your home should be a place of refuge.
Local Resources: If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please use these confidential 24/7 hotlines.
Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline: 703-360-7273
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Things in the House and Senate: Key Bills Moving
Adoptee Citizenship Progress: The bill to provide automatic U.S. citizenship for intercountry adoptees, known as the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act (PAAF) in the Senate (S. 2923) and the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2025 in the House (H.R. 5492), remains Introduced. The bill has bipartisan sponsorship and continues its long path through the committee process. This movement gives hope to thousands of intercountry adoptees who have been denied citizenship due to an age loophole in the original law.
The SAVE Act Update (H.R. 22): The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (H.R. 22) has already passed the House and has been Received in the Senate. It now awaits action there.
What it does: The bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship (like a passport or birth certificate) to register to vote in federal elections.
Family Impact: Opposition groups, including the League of Women Voters, stress that this requirement is unnecessary and will disproportionately impact military members, natural disaster survivors, and millions of American women and others who have changed their names and may lack documentation that matches their current legal name.
Around the World: Global Events with Potential Impact
The Digital World and Our Safety: CISA 2015 Remains Lapsed: As we reported last week, the U.S. government shutdown coincided with the expiration of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 2015).
Status: As of today, the law remains unreauthorized and expired. Senate leaders have not yet announced a timeline to renew the law.
Increased Threat: This lapse creates a significant vulnerability, chilling the flow of crucial cyber threat intelligence (like ransomware attack patterns) between private sector companies and federal agencies. Without CISA’s statutory protections, analysts estimate a potential 80% reduction in threat intelligence sharing. This means your family's vigilance regarding digital security is more critical than ever, as our national defense is operating with less real-time information.
Things to Keep in Mind: Balance and Reflection 🧘♀️
A Week for Remembrance: Last week, we observed World Mental Health Day (Oct 10) and National Coming Out Day (Oct 11). This week, we reflect on those lessons and look forward.
Monday, October 13th is Indigenous Peoples' Day: Take the time today to talk to your family about the history of the land we occupy, and honor the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples.
Thursday, October 16th is Spirit Day: This is an international day for LGBTQ+ acceptance. Wear purple to stand against bullying and show support for LGBTQ+ youth.
Friday, October 17th is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: With the economic turmoil of the shutdown affecting so many, this day takes on renewed significance. It is a chance to talk to your children about empathy, community support, and the need for global and local systems that ensure stability and dignity for all families.
Continued Awareness: Remember October is still Breast Cancer Awareness Month and LGBT History Month. Use these opportunities for family discussion and action.
Jess C's Mom's Two Cents
It is Day 13 of the shutdown, and what was an inconvenience for Washington has become a genuine threat to the stability of our neighbors' lives. This is no longer a political maneuver; it is a community crisis.
My two cents is this: Focus on the circle of support.
Advocate: Make that call to your Senators. It is the most powerful single action you can take.
Support: Check on your federal worker neighbors. A small meal, a gift card, or simply an offer to watch their kids can make a difference.
Secure: Given the lapse in national cyber defenses, make sure your family's digital security—your Hive—is locked down. Strong passwords and vigilance are your tools of self-defense.
We are stronger together. Let's make this week one of action and compassion.
Upcoming Events
Bibliography for "Family Issues" Publication (October 13, 2025)
I. On the Home Front: National News & Your Family's Well-being (Government Shutdown)
Government Shutdown FAQ | U.S. Representative Ami Bera: Details on the October 1, 2025 shutdown, the status of services like Social Security and Medicare, and impacts on military families.
2025 Government Shutdown | U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen - House.gov: Information on Social Security operations, federal employee health insurance continuity, and federal retiree pension payments during the lapse.
Eyes on Washington: Shutdown Briefing – Day 10 | Insights | Holland & Knight: Update on the 13-day mark, the financial cliff for service members and federal workers, and the critical status of the WIC program.
How Will a Government Shutdown Affect WIC Benefits? - Food Research & Action Center: Details on the WIC program's reliance on state-level carryover funds and the risk of disruption if the shutdown extends beyond mid-October.
II. Public Safety and School Environments (DVAM)
Local Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotlines: Compilation of confidential 24/7 hotlines for Northern Virginia (Fairfax County) and the National Domestic Violence Hotline. (Source: Local County and National Domestic Violence Coalition resources).
III. Things in the House and Senate: Key Bills Moving
H.R.22 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): SAVE Act: Official status of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, confirming its passage in the House and reception in the Senate, and outlining its requirement for documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote.
Action: US Citizenship for Intercountry Adoptees | Adoptee Rights Law Center: Updates on the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2025 (H.R. 5492) and the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act (S. 2923), including the issue of the age loophole and the need for bipartisan support.
League of Women Voters: Position on H.R. 22: Analysis detailing the potential disproportionate impact of the SAVE Act on eligible voters, including women who have changed their names and intercountry adoptees.
IV. Around the World: Global Events with Potential Impact
CISA 2015 Lapses With Reauthorization Uncertain — Why It Matters, What's at Stake, and What's Next | Insights & Resources | Goodwin: Confirmation that the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 2015) expired on September 30, 2025, and the resulting legal uncertainty.
Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 Lapses | Insights - Mayer Brown: Explanation of CISA 2015's protections (liability, FOIA exemption) and the potential chilling effect its expiration has on cyber threat intelligence sharing.
When Cyber Visibility Fades: The National Risk of Losing the CISA 2015 Act... - Carson & SAINT: Details on the estimated 80% reduction in threat intelligence sharing due to the CISA lapse and the resulting increase in national cyber vulnerability.
V. Things to Keep in Mind: Balance and Reflection
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - the United Nations: Date and theme for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17th), focusing on ending social and institutional maltreatment of families.
Indigenous Peoples' Day | American Association of School Librarians: The date for Indigenous Peoples' Day (the second Monday of October, which is the 13th in 2025) and its purpose to uplift and recognize the history and contributions of Indigenous peoples.
GLAAD - Spirit Day: The date for Spirit Day (October 16th) and its purpose of standing against bullying and showing support for LGBTQ+ youth.
Annual Observances and Awareness Months: General knowledge compilation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and LGBT History Month (all of October).
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