Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and 44 Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce a resolution calling on Senate Republicans to force President Trump to immediately use all congressionally approved funding to keep families from going hungry.
The senators introduced the resolution after the Trump Administration paused benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for nearly 42 million Americans over the weekend due to the ongoing Republican-led government shutdown.
Today, November 4th, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that USDA has sent SNAP guidance to states after they were ordered to provide funding by two federal judges, but claimed that this will be a “cumbersome process” that may delay SNAP benefits for weeks. Shortly after Secretary Rollins’ announcement, President Trump claimed that he would illegally withhold all SNAP benefits until the shutdown ends. However, a few hours later, the White House announced that the Trump Administration is complying with court orders requiring the Administration to use congressionally-appropriated contingency funds to continue providing SNAP benefits. This incoherent back-and-forth has left SNAP recipients in limbo, unsure whether they will receive the benefits they need to feed their families.
“Despite having the legal authority and the funds to ensure Coloradans receive their full SNAP benefits, the Trump Administration continues threatening to withhold or delay funding from this crucial program and allow families to go hungry,” said Bennet. “These incoherent half measures are unacceptable. Our resolution demands that President Trump and Republicans stop using hunger as a political weapon, follow the law, and fully fund SNAP immediately.”
“Trump is using food as a weapon against children, families, and seniors to enact his ‘Make Americans Hungry Agenda,’” said Merkley. “It’s unbelievably cruel, but Trump cares more about playing politics than making sure kids don’t starve. Kids and families are not poker chips or hostages. Trump must release the entirety of the SNAP funds immediately.”
In Colorado, over 600,000 people – or 10% of the state population – rely on SNAP benefits. Any disruption in SNAP funding is devastating for the millions of families that depend on the program to put food on the table.
USDA has the authority to release $6 billion in congressionally-appropriated SNAP contingency funds, and the Trump Administration is required by law to release these funds. USDA also has interchange authority, allowing it to transfer federal funds from other nutrition programs to support SNAP. However, the Trump Administration decided to withhold this available funding, causing SNAP benefits to lapse on November 1st.
In addition to Bennet and Merkley, U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) cosponsored the resolution.
The text of the resolution is available HERE.
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