Congressman Andy Harris has informed constituents in Maryland’s 1st district about available resources for those affected by the expiration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown. The shutdown, led by a partisan divide in Congress, has disrupted federal services and created uncertainty for families who rely on food assistance.
In a statement to his constituents, Harris said:
“Five weeks ago, the House passed a clean bill to keep the government open, pay our military, all federal workers, air traffic controllers and ensure programs like SNAP continue without interruption. I proudly stood as the only Maryland federal representative and joined my fellow House Republicans in voting to keep the federal government open.
Since then, My Democrat colleagues have voted time and again, more than 10 times, to block the clean continuing resolution that would have kept the government open, and as a result, SNAP benefits expired on November 1, while troop pay and essential services continue to hang in the balance.
Instead of standing up for American families, Maryland liberals are fighting to fund healthcare for illegal immigrants and hardworking Maryland families are paying the price. Even the American Federation of Government Employees has urged Democrats to pass the same clean bipartisan continuing resolution they supported 13 times before during the Biden administration and earlier this March. The left claims that this shutdown is about “healthcare” is completely false — it’s about their refusal to abandon radical demands for more than a trillion dollars in new spending and taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants.
With SNAP funding expiring, it is projected that 680,000 Marylanders could lose access to the food assistance they rely on to feed their families and put meals on the table.
This didn’t have to happen.
House Republicans took action to protect families, but Maryland’s liberals chose partisan games instead.
It’s time for Maryland liberals to do their jobs, stop their grandstanding, and support the reopening of the government.
The government shutdown has created uncertainty for thousands of Maryland families, workers, and federal employees. My office is here to help. If you are experiencing delays in federal services, issues with SNAP or Social Security, or any other shutdown-related concern, please don’t hesitate to reach out. My team and I remain committed to serving you — even when Washington isn’t working as it should.”
Harris provided contact information for state resources including a constituent services line at the Maryland Department of Disabilities (410-767-3660) and guidance on how residents can find local food banks throughout Maryland.
Andy Harris has represented Maryland’s 1st district in Congress since 2011 after replacing Frank Kratovil. He previously served in both chambers of Maryland’s state legislature from 1999 until his election to Congress. Harris was born in New York City in 1957 and currently resides in Cambridge. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977.
