With SNAP Benefits Set To Lapse, Michigan Democrats Call On Trump Administration To Utilize SNAP Emergency Funds, Provide November Benefits To Families In Need

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Hillary Scholten (MI-03) is leading the Michigan Democratic delegation - Kristen McDonald-Rivet (MI-08), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Debbie Dingell (MI-06) - in calling on the Trump Administration to draw on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency funds to provide November SNAP benefits to families in need. Due to a lapse in funds as a result of the ongoing government shutdown, the United States Department of Agriculture USDA directed Michigan to pause issuing SNAP benefits. The SNAP contingency fund, which exists to address emergency needs, currently holds roughly $5 billion-enough to pay partial benefits for SNAP recipients for November.

"We write to urge USDA to swiftly tap into its contingency fund to ensure that SNAP benefits are allocated to eligible Michiganders," wrote the members. "So long as negotiations to reopen the federal government are stalled, USDA can and should use existing authorities to protect communities across our state from going without food while ensuring local economies are not further harmed by the shutdown."

"This shutdown-while it could end today if House and Senate Republicans were amenable to negotiations-requires real leadership to prevent families from going hungry," they continued. "We stand ready to reopen the government; however, should political games prevail, we must work together to ensure that SNAP benefits flow to Michigan to safeguard access to food. We are committed to putting communities across Michigan above partisan fighting. We urge the USDA and the Trump Administration to draw down SNAP contingency funds to provide benefits to eligible families."

On October 23, the USDA, which operates SNAP, directed Michigan officials to pause issuing November SNAP payments until further notice. Approximately 13 percent of Michigan households, or 1.4 million people, receive SNAP. Almost half of SNAP recipients in Michigan are families with children, and nearly 40 percent are families with older adults or individuals with disabilities. If SNAP benefits are not issued, hundreds of thousands of Michiganders will go hungry. The members are calling on the USDA to swiftly tap into its contingency fund to ensure that SNAP benefits go out to Michiganders in need.

The full text of the letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is available below:

Hon. Brooke Rollins

Secretary

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Secretary Rollins:

This week, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) was notified that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) instructed the State of Michigan to pause the November issuance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. We write to urge USDA to swiftly tap into its contingency fund to ensure that SNAP benefits are allocated to eligible Michiganders. So long as negotiations to reopen the federal government are stalled, USDA can and should use existing authorities to protect communities across our state from going without food while ensuring local economies are not further harmed by the shutdown.

SNAP is one of the most proven tools to effectively reduce food insecurity throughout our nation. As such, the USDA must utilize its contingency fund to empower Americans in putting nutritious meals on tables while lifting families-who are already struggling to afford housing, health care, and other critical bills-out of poverty. SNAP is vital for families and individuals' access to food across Michigan, with approximately 13 percent of Michigan households, or 1.4 million people, receiving these benefits. Almost 50 percent of SNAP recipients in

Michigan are families with children, and nearly 40 percent are families with older adults or individuals with disabilities. By directing MDHHS to temporarily pause the issuance of these critical SNAP benefits in November, USDA will be putting Michigan's most vulnerable in harm's way.

In addition to being a lifeline for Michigan families, SNAP is critical to supporting our state's hardworking, innovative farmers. SNAP is the largest, most popular program at Michigan farmers' markets, and most farmers' markets are authorized to accept the program's benefits. In fact, upwards of 15 percent of farmers' sales come from SNAP benefits at these markets.2 The compounding benefits of farmers accepting SNAP dollars are so popular that the state established the Double Up Food Bucks program to match the dollars spent on fresh produce with SNAP benefits, doubling the buying power of Michiganders. Ultimately, SNAP is proven to support families in accessing fresh, nutritious produce and attract more customers to Michigan farmers' food.

It is unacceptable for Michiganders to go without SNAP benefits. This shutdown-while it could end today if House and Senate Republicans were amenable to negotiations-requires real leadership to prevent families from going hungry. We stand ready to reopen the government; however, should political games prevail, we must work together to ensure that SNAP benefits flow to Michigan to safeguard access to food. We are committed to putting communities across Michigan above partisan fighting. We urge the USDA and the Trump Administration to draw down SNAP contingency funds to provide benefits to eligible families.

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