With the ongoing government shutdown nearing a critical deadline, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is urging Congress to pass his standalone legislation to ensure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remains funded.
The federal food assistance program, relied upon by approximately 42 million Americans, is set to run out of funds on November 1st if the government remains closed.
In an op-ed published Tuesday, Hawley underscored the urgency of the situation, noting the government has been shut down for 28 days and calling the impending lapse of food benefits an “entirely new stage of suffering.”
Hawley detailed the significant impact the cutoff would have, emphasizing that SNAP—commonly known as food stamps—is a vital lifeline for low-income families.
- 42 Million Affected: Over 12 percent of the American population, including about 1.2 million veterans, rely on SNAP to purchase basic food items.
- Low-Income Focus: Eligibility for the program is generally limited to those earning 130 percent of the poverty line or below, highlighting that recipients are struggling families, people with disabilities, and those experiencing temporary job loss.
- Constituent Concerns: The Senator shared emotional letters from Missouri constituents who depend on the aid, including a retired teacher whose grandchildren asked, “Grandma, what will we do? How will we eat?”
While acknowledging that the “best solution would be to pass a clean funding bill to reopen the government in its entirety,” Hawley insisted that in the absence of a full resolution, Congress must at least pass his bill to keep food assistance flowing without interruption.
Hawley framed the issue as a matter of national character and generosity, citing American traditions and scripture. He also argued the expense is manageable, noting the food program costs about a tenth of the annual defense budget, and said there is “no cause, and no excuse, to deny aid to the poor entirely.”
The looming November 1st deadline places pressure on Congress to act quickly on the standalone funding measure or reach an agreement to end the government shutdown, which is now the second-longest in U.S. history.
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