Congresswoman Nikema Williams Joins House Democrats in Urging USDA to Take Immediate Action to Fund SNAP

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) joined a letter led by Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), along with 212 other House Democrats, to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins urging the agency to use contingency reserve funds to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown.

With no bipartisan path forward to reopen the government, SNAP funding is set to lapse on November 1, putting 42 million children and families at risk of hunger.

There are enough funds in the SNAP contingency reserve to cover nearly two-thirds of the amount needed for a full month of benefits. As such, the Members also urged the agency to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal means to supplement shortfalls the contingency reserve cannot cover.

The members wrote:

“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. 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 table 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.”

Read the full letter here.