Stop the SNAP Cutoff - Food is not a Bargaining Chip!

I am writing to demand that you immediately denounce and act against the reported plan to suspend SNAP and other essential food benefits due to the federal government shutdown. Food is not a bargaining chip. It is a basic human need. Roughly 12 percent of Americans rely on SNAP to keep food on the table. Cutting off these benefits—many to families with children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities—will push millions into crisis. During previous shutdowns, essential benefits like SNAP continued because Congress and past administrations understood that political disputes must never come at the expense of human survival. To do otherwise is unconscionable. It will not only cause hunger but force households to choose between rent and groceries, leading to eviction, homelessness, and preventable illness and trauma. No one should be made to suffer or starve because of political brinkmanship. The federal government’s moral and legal duty is to protect the welfare of its people, not to use that welfare as leverage. I urge you to: 1. Publicly reject any plan that delays or suspends SNAP or related programs during a shutdown. 2. Support legislation or emergency measures guaranteeing uninterrupted benefits. 3. Press the Administration to immediately restore funding for essential food assistance. Millions of Americans who work hard, care for families, or live on fixed incomes depend on these programs. Removing access to food assistance will not just harm individuals—it will destabilize communities, increase pressure on shelters and food banks, and deepen inequality. Our country’s strength is measured by how it treats those in need, especially during moments of uncertainty. We cannot claim to be a moral or prosperous nation if we knowingly let families go hungry to win a political fight. I call on you to speak out now, take action, and ensure that SNAP and other essential benefits are restored immediately. Please show your constituents—and the country—that compassion and common sense still guide our government.