Cantwell Appeals to Republican Colleagues: Help Us Save SNAP

Cantwell Appeals to Republican Colleagues: Help Us Save SNAP

"The economic hardship that is being put on these American families at the hands of this administration is unconscionable." More than 1 in 10 Washingtonians received SNAP benefits earlier this year

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last night, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, took to the Senate floor and urged her Republican colleagues to address the affordability crisis facing American families - especially the millions who depend on SNAP benefits to put food on their tables.

"The administration could fully fund SNAP benefits, do as the courts have asked. But for some reason, it's better to deny these people the benefits they deserve," said Sen. Cantwell. "The economic hardship that is being put on these American families at the hands of this administration is unconscionable."

"What we need is for our colleagues on the other side of the aisle and the White House to help us with SNAP."

On Monday, Sen. Cantwell released data showing the total number of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in each of Washington state's 39 counties. The data, provided by the State of Washington, is for March 2025. It shows that 903,541 Washingtonians received SNAP benefits in that month, 11.2% of the state's population.

Yesterday, President Trump signaled in a Truth Social post that he would continue to let Americans go hungry, defying two federal court orders to restore SNAP benefits for the 42 million people who receive them. Despite having the U.S. Department of Agriculture emergency contingency funds available to restore benefits now, the Trump administration is doubling down to use hunger as a political weapon.

While the White House later attempted to walk back Trump's social media post, the Administration is cutting SNAP benefits in half for November. This creates significant administrative burdens in disbursing funds which will result in potentially weeks-long delays in recipients receiving the funds they need to feed themselves and their families.

Sen. Cantwell also discussed the crisis of skyrocketing health care costs caused by Republicans' failure to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits that help middle-class Americans afford health insurance. Sen. Cantwell recently released an analysis illustrating the impact on Washingtonians' health premium costs if Congress fails to extend the credits. As that analysis shows, the average increase in health premiums for a sample middle-class couple across all 39 Washington counties is $1,049/month or $12,590/year.

"Let's work together to lower these extraordinary costs of health care on American families, to help a food program that has helped our farm communities, and certainly helped families," said Sen. Cantwell.

Video of Sen. Cantwell's remarks is available HERE and a transcript is available HERE.