Rep. Andrea Salinas Stands with House Democrats to Call Out President Trump Illegally Withholding SNAP Benefits

Watch a recording of the full speech here.

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) joined fellow House Democrats outside the Capitol to denounce President Trump's announcement that he plans to unlawfully withhold critical SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funding that serves millions of American families, including over 100,000 people in Oregon's Sixth Congressional District. In her remarks, Congresswoman Salinas pledged that she and House Democrats will continue fighting for the immediate restoration of these benefits.

A transcript of Salinas' remarks is available below:

This morning, President Trump said that he will only distribute SNAP benefits when the government re-opens.

He said this despite a federal judge ruling that he must use emergency SNAP funding to make sure families do not go hungry.

If there is one message I want you to take away from today, it's that this President is willing to break the law to starve people.

I'll say that again. The President is willing to break the law in order to starve people.

Over the weekend, I had the chance to visit with people in my district, Danielle and Raven, who are trying to get ahead. They're working, working moms, trying to put food on the table.

I visited Marion Polk Food Share in my district, and when I spoke to their staffs, it's clear families are hurting more than ever.

People need help, help putting food on the table. And at the same time, there's less food to go around.

And so when children, seniors, [and] veterans are hungry, what is the President's response?

Does he send a $40 billion check to those families like he did to Argentina?

No. He says, "Let them starve."

To the 42 million Americans, including over 100,000 people in just my district alone, who rely on SNAP, who rely on $6 a day worth of food, here's what I want you to know: the President and the Republican Party have decided that it's necessary for 42 million people to go hungry as a political tactic.

They believe that you are not deserving of health, and they're willing to break the law to make sure you don't get it.

But my Democratic colleagues and I are here to tell you they are wrong.

You did not do anything wrong. You do not deserve this cruelty.

Hunger is a policy choice. You deserve support. You deserve to be helped.

And everyone up here is willing to fight like hell to make sure you get it.

Thank you.

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