Gov Lamont Among 21 Governors Calling for Release of Federal Contingency Funds for Food Assistance

Gov Ned Lamont (D) has joined 20 other state governors in calling for President Donald Trump to release contingency funds to maintain funding for food assistance for 42 million people in need during the federal government shutdown.

Gov Lamont’s office said that, “The Trump administration informed states last week that funding for SNAP benefits will not be issued beginning November 1.”

The federal government is largely shut down because Congress, controlled by Republicans in both the House of Representatives and Senate, has not approved a budget that meets Democrats’ priority to restore Medicaid and other health care funding Republicans have cut or allowed to lapse and funding that keeps health insurance rates under the Affordable Care Act from rising. Though Democrats are not in the majority, rules in the US Senate require support of 60 out of the 100 Senators – fewer seats than Republicans hold.

The other governors and Lamont as asking that the contingency funds, currently held by the US Department of Agriculture, be released to prevent the food assistance from being stopped during the shutdown, noting the that the SNAP program, “feeds 42 million people, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities.”

“Rather than allow millions of Americans to go hungry next month,” Gov Lamont and the other governors said, “we demand that USDA immediately release the multi-year contingency SNAP funding and supplement any shortfall by utilizing its interchange transfer authority to ensure full SNAP benefits are provided to the 42 million American who rely on them next month.”

The governors’ letter says,

The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) feeds 42 million people, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities. We are alarmed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has instructed states to stop issuing SNAP benefits for November. We are equally alarmed that the USDA has chosen to view use of SNAP contingency funds to cover regular benefits as unlawful per USDA’s official memo sent on Friday, October 24th. Rather than allow millions of Americans to go hungry next month, we demand that USDA immediately release the multi-year contingency SNAP funding and supplement any shortfall by utilizing its interchange transfer authority to ensure full SNAP benefits are provided to the 42 million American who rely on them next month.

Broadly speaking, SNAP supports approximately 388,000 jobs nationwide and more than $20 billion in direct wages, and it results in over $4.5 billion in state and federal tax revenue. Halting SNAP benefits will put millions of Americans at risk of food insecurity and poverty. SNAP is more than a food assistance program, it is a lifeline. It helps families put nutritious food on the table, supports local farmers and grocers, and strengthens our communities and economy. The USDA’s decision to delay SNAP assistance is unacceptable, and we urge your Administration to provide the necessary funding to deliver full benefits to vulnerable Americans in need, especially with Thanksgiving just a few weeks away.

SNAP lifts families out of poverty by allowing them to spend money that would otherwise have been used for food on rent, heat, or health care. We know that infants and children in families who receive SNAP are more likely to see a doctor for periodic check-ups. Additionally, older adults receiving SNAP are more likely to take their prescribed medications because they have enough money to afford both food and medicine. No one should have to make those impossible choices.

We urge you to immediately direct the USDA to prevent a disruption to SNAP. Every day of delay brings us a day closer to November 1st and tens of millions of our fellow Americans going hungry.

Sincerely,

Gretchen E. Whitmer
Governor of Michigan

Tina Kotek
Governor of Oregon

Bob Ferguson
Governor of Washington

Tim Walz
Governor of Minnesota

Janet Mills
Governor of Maine

Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York

Michelle Lujan Grisham
Governor of New Mexico

J.B. Pritzker
Governor of Illinois

Wes Moore
Governor of Maryland

Laura Kelly
Governor of Kansas

Andy Beshear
Governor of Kentucky

Ned Lamont
Governor of Connecticut

Jared Polis
Governor of Colorado

Phil Murphy
Governor of New Jersey

Josh Shapiro
Governor of Pennsylvania

Tony Evers
Governor of Wisconsin

Gavin Newsom
Governor of California

Maura Healey
Governor of Massachusetts

Katie Hobbs
Governor of Arizona

Dan McKee
Governor of Rhode Island

Josh Stein
Governor of North Carolina