WASHINGTON, D.C. – In just two days, SNAP funding is set to lapse. Millions of Americans rely on this food benefit program. Members of congress are pointing the finger at each other for this food crisis. Now, some states are trying to step up in making sure SNAP continues without federal help.
Earlier this week, the US Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, said no benefits will be issued on November first.
“42-million Americans, 3-million in New York, that’s more than 10 percent- that’s 15 percent of our population who rely on SNAP every month to afford groceries and feed their families,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D- NY).
On average, SNAP recipients get $187 a month on a prepaid card. Many families use those benefits as their main source of money for food.
“SNAP is the largest anti-hunger program in the United States,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY).
While SNAP is federally funded, some states are taking emergency actions to keep residents from losing benefits. For example, New York will provide 65-million dollars in new state funds for emergency food assistance, which they said it will provide 40 million meals to New Yorkers.
Senate Democrats said the Trump administration is purposely suspending SNAP benefits.
“For the first time in history, the President is refusing to fund SNAP during a shutdown,” said Sen. Schumer. “Why is he doing this? It’s not because the money is gone. The money is there. Not because it’s not permitted. It’s perfectly legal. Donald Trump is doing it out of vindictiveness, out of meanness. He ordered it to be stopped.”
Republicans said SNAP would be fully funded in their continuing resolution, which would reopen the government.
“SNAP recipients shouldn’t go without food,” said Sen. John Thune (R- SD). “People should be getting paid in this country. And we’ve tried to do that 13 times! You voted ‘no’13 times. This isn’t a political game. These are real people’s lives that we’re talking about.
Many Senate Democrats have voted against the Republican-backed bill that would reopen the government because it does not include extensions to the Affordable Care Act subsidies.
