Amo Joins Over 200 House Democrats in Urging USDA to Take Immediate Action to Fund SNAP
WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) joined Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), and 211 House Democrats in sending a letter urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to use contingency reserve dollars to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown. Thanks to President Donald Trump and Secretary Rollins’ refusal to use contingency funds, SNAP funding is set to lapse on November 1st, putting 42 million children and families, including 144,000 Rhode Islanders, at risk of experiencing hunger.
“Now more than ever, millions of families across the country depend upon the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make ends meet. For far too many veterans, seniors, and children, SNAP benefits are the difference between having food or not,” wrote the Members. “Now, due to the government shutdown, they are facing crippling levels of uncertainty about whether they will be able to afford food next month. A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country.”
“We urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance. Additionally, while the contingency reserve will not cover November benefits in full, we urge USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority at its disposal to supplement these dollars and fully fund November benefits. There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their tables in November. Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people.”
Full text of the letter is available here.
Despite claims by Donald Trump and Republicans, there is sufficient funding and legal authority to use the SNAP contingency reserve to cover nearly two-thirds of the amount needed for a full month of benefits. As such, the Members also advocate that the agency use statutory transfer authority or other legal means to supplement shortfalls the contingency reserve cannot cover.
Background
Congressman Amo, a member of the House Budget Committee, has fought to protect Americans’ SNAP benefits and nutrition assistance.
Amo recently introduced theContinuity and Reimbursement for Essential Nutrition (CARE) for WIC During Shutdowns Act to ensure states’ that fill the federal funding gap for WIC during a government shutdown are reimbursed and can continue to provide vital nutrition services, whether or not Republicans show up to work.
In addition to the chaos of their government shutdown, Republicans’ Big, Ugly Law cut $187 billion in funding from SNAP, threatening to kick over 35,000 Rhode Islanders off the program, leaving working families even more vulnerable to Trump and Republicans’ cost of living crisis. The Trump administration is also forcing states to comply with some of the harshest red tape imposed on SNAP in decades by November 1, making it more difficult for those up to age 65, including veterans, caregivers, and parents, to access benefits.
Since Trump and Republicans began their efforts to decimate America’s social safety net, Amo has visited food pantries across the First Congressional District, which expect to see a further spike in need as SNAP benefit cuts take effect at a time when Trump’s tariffs have caused grocery prices to jump dramatically.
Amo is fighting to reopen the government and reverse Republican cuts to the services working Rhode Islanders rely on.
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