Release SNAP Benefits

As the federal shutdown enters its fourth week, the 3.5 million Texans who rely on SNAP food stamps to feed their families are at risk of losing benefit access as soon as next month.  Working families, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities use SNAP benefits to access food. Federal regulations require the administration to spend federal contingency funds on SNAP during a government shutdown. Those funds are available to the administration for release and require no legal or administrative expense. The administration must simply be willing to distribute the existing funds. I am writing to urge — no, I insist — that you do all in your power to ensure that the administration meets that federal requirement and release SNAP funds to feed your constituents facing hunger. In addition, I urge you to make the Marketplace health insurance enhanced subsidies permanent. You can support both healthcare stability and food security for your constituents by making enhanced Marketplace subsidies permanent, ending the shutdown, and funding SNAP.  As a member of Congress and a professed Christian, you have a moral imperative to use your office to feed and provide affordable health care to “the least of these.” Take care of your constituents. DO YOUR JOB.