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U.S. Reps. Annie Kuster and Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire have signed a petition that would force a vote to end the federal government shutdown.

Last week, one bloc of one party in one House of Congress forced a shutdown of the entire federal government. In New Hampshire and across the country, we're already seeing the consequences. Brave members of our National Guard have been furloughed. Life-saving scientific research has been stalled. Loans to small businesses have been frozen. Food assistance to children and expectant mothers has been threatened. The list goes on and on. But instead of working in a common sense, bipartisan way to end the shutdown, some in Washington are playing cynical political games to avoid being blamed for it.

I recently received a heartbreaking letter from a constituent. She is 28 years old. She has a disability and is an orphan, with no family to fall back on. She is the mother of a toddler and also working toward two undergraduate degrees while trying to find a job. She stretches modest federal food assistance to help feed herself and her child, and she still has to visit her local food bank to get by.

U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) made a brief appearance and vowed she would work with anyone interested in ending climate change or limiting its effects, regardless of their side of the aisle. “I believe we have a response to protect these natural resources for future generations,” she said. “New Hampshire is poised to lead the charge against climate change.”