Rep. Panetta Calls On Administration To Fund SNAP Benefits for Working Families During Shutdown

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined his colleagues in urging U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) contingency reserve to fully fund November SNAP benefits, which are at risk of not being delivered if the federal government is still shut down on November 1st. 

“Working families could face even more uncertainty about whether they will be able to put food on the table next month,” said Representative Panetta. “We call on Secretary Rollins to act quickly to give them peace of mind by ensuring that SNAP benefits are delivered without delays. The wellbeing of our community is my priority during the federal government shutdown, and why I continue to push the Administration to ensure that there’s the proper assistance for working families.”

SNAP's contingency reserve was previously appropriated by Congress for scenarios like the current federal government shutdown to make up for gaps in federal funding. Currently, USDA has not issued any guidance to states on how to navigate the upcoming November 1st lapse in SNAP benefits, leading to significant anxiety and uncertainty for families who depend on SNAP to afford food.

Approximately 21,000 households in CA-19 depend on SNAP benefits on a monthly basis. With the additional needs of furloughed federal workers, food banks and food assistance programs in the district are expecting an influx of demand in November. Governor Newsom has set aside an additional $81 million to ensure food banks across the state remain stocked and will deploy the National Guard to pack and deliver meals for families. 

Representative Panetta has been a fierce advocate for families in CA-19 experiencing food insecurity for years. In March of this year, following devastating cuts to programs that improved food access, Representative Panetta and Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff led the California Democratic Congressional delegation in demanding USDA reverse their harmful federal program cancellations and freezes that impacted state food banks and farmers. He has also launched efforts to address and reduce hunger and food insecurity among military servicemembers and their families. Representative Panetta and Representative Jimmy Gomez have also pursued legislation to expand SNAP benefits for college students experiencing food insecurity in California. 

Full text of the letter to USDA Secretary Rollins can be viewed HERE and below:

Dear Madam Secretary,

Right now, millions of Americans are struggling to afford food due to the Administration’s ill-conceived trade war. Just this year, we’ve seen household staples like eggs, coffee, and ground beef hit record high prices. Now more than ever, millions of families across the country depend upon the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make ends meet. For far too many veterans, seniors, and children, SNAP benefits are the difference between having food or not. Now, due to the government shutdown, they are facing crippling levels of uncertainty about whether they will be able to afford food next month.  

A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country. As the largest food assistance program in the United States, SNAP serves 42 million people. That includes 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans. 

That is why we were deeply concerned to see your comments suggesting that SNAP will run out of funding in two weeks and that no SNAP benefits will be issued in November. USDA’s shutdown plan acknowledges that “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds...” USDA still has significant funding available in SNAP’s contingency reserve – which Congress provides precisely for this reason – that can be used to fund the bulk of November benefits. 

We urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance. Additionally, while the contingency reserve will not cover November benefits in full, we urge USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority at its disposal to supplement these dollars and fully fund November benefits. 

There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their table in November. Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people. We appreciate your consideration of these requests.

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