With a government shutdown threatening Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments for millions of Americans, Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) introduced a bill on Friday to guarantee continuous funding for the vital food aid program.
The legislation, titled the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025, would ensure that SNAP remains funded throughout a government lapse until the Department of Agriculture receives regular appropriations or stopgap measures. The bill’s introduction comes as the potential interruption of November SNAP benefits emerges as a major flashpoint in the ongoing budget and shutdown fight.
Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) co-sponsored the House bill, which is the companion to a measure being led in the Senate by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO). Senate Republicans are reportedly considering bringing the upper chamber’s SNAP-funding bill up for a floor vote.
Looming Threat to November Benefits
While October’s SNAP benefits were not impacted by the shutdown, the Department of Agriculture has warned it will not have sufficient funds to pay full benefits in November if the lapse in appropriations continues. SNAP, which provides food assistance to over 42 million Americans, is federally funded, with states administering the program and distributing benefits.
“More than 262,000 Iowans, including over 100,000 children rely on SNAP to put food on the table. They cannot afford to be ‘leverage’ in the Democrats’ political games,” Miller-Meeks said in a statement. “That’s why I’m introducing legislation to ensure SNAP remains funded throughout the shutdown. Access to food is not negotiable.”
Miller-Meeks specifically referenced the challenges in her state, noting, “In a state like Iowa, where many communities don’t have large food banks or pantries to fill the gap, any lapse in benefits would be catastrophic for families.”
Political Standoff Continues
The introduction of the SNAP-funding bill is set against the backdrop of a broader political standoff. Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked a “clean” stopgap funding bill passed by the House, demanding that Republicans negotiate on expiring health care issues, such as enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits.
READ: Rojas-Espinoza v. Bondi: California Court Refuses To Block Removal Of Peruvian Family
Democrats, in turn, have criticized the GOP’s sudden push to protect SNAP, pointing to past Republican attempts to cut funding for the program. House Democratic Whip Rep. Katherine Clark (MA) said on Wednesday, “They are now trying to reimagine themselves as the champions of federal workers — as the champions of food programs and health care — when all they have done is take an axe to all of that since they came into office?”
House Action Dependent on Senate
It remains unlikely that the Miller-Meeks bill will receive a stand-alone vote in the House before any Senate action, as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has kept the House out of session to pressure Senate Democrats.
However, Johnson left the door open to a vote if the Senate moves first.
“If the Senate passes the bill, then the House will address that,” Johnson stated in a press conference, emphasizing the importance of the aid. “You’re talking about, I think it’s 42 or 43 million Americans rely upon that vital service, and it’s unconscionable that they would be held at bay and held as leverage on this.”
The Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 is designed to provide the Secretary of Agriculture with access to emergency funds to maintain SNAP operations during a shutdown, and it includes retroactive authority to restore any missed benefits, ensuring that “no child goes hungry because of the Schumer Shutdown,” Miller-Meeks concluded.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
