Governor Lombardo Responds to Letter from Nevada Congressional Democrats Regarding SNAP Funding

Today, Governor Joe Lombardo issued a response to Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04), Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), and Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) regarding their suggestion that Nevada use state funds to temporarily support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

"Unfortunately, the proposal from Representatives Horsford, Titus, and Lee is not a viable solution at this point," said Governor Lombardo. "The USDA has made clear that states cannot use their own dollars to fund federal SNAP benefits, even on a temporary basis, and cannot share SNAP household data with vendors to do so."

Governor Lombardo's response follows written clarification from the USDA on October 23 and a subsequent memo to states, confirming that SNAP benefits are fully federally funded and that states are prohibited from issuing those benefits through state dollars.

Despite the federal restrictions, Governor Lombardo announced several steps his administration is taking to support Nevadans affected by the shutdown, including:

• Directing the Governor's Finance Office, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Agriculture to expand support for local food banks and community partners that serve SNAP beneficiaries;
• Preparing to engage the Nevada National Guard to assist with food distribution to those in need; and
• Continuing coordination with federal agencies and the White House to mitigate impacts on Nevada families.

"We are doing everything within our authority to support Nevadans who are being hurt by the federal funding stalemate in Congress being fed by Democrats' inaction," Governor Lombardo writes in his letter. "I implore each of you to join in bipartisan efforts to reopen the federal government - just as Senator Cortez Masto has done - and to call on your colleagues, including Senator Rosen, to pass a clean continuing resolution. Nevadans deserve a functioning federal government, not political brinkmanship. It's time to put partisanship aside and get the government back to work."

Governor Lombardo's full letter is attached.

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