House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, and House Agriculture Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Brad Finstad issued a statement criticizing Democrats for not reopening the federal government. They argue that this has resulted in the lapse of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding for the first time in the program’s history.
The joint statement said: “Democrats are denying full SNAP benefits to vulnerable Americans. For the first time in the history of the program, SNAP funding has lapsed—leaving those who depend on this lifeline at risk of going hungry. This outcome was entirely avoidable. Republicans voted to fully fund nutrition benefits and keep the entire federal government open. Had Senate Democrats joined us, full SNAP benefits would have continued, our troops, air traffic controllers, and federal workers would be paid, and every government service would be operational.
“Instead, they voted fourteen times to let families go without. The Trump Administration has taken great lengths to mitigate harm across the nation. Yet, Democrats are acting as if contingency funds are an acceptable substitute for full benefits. They aren’t. The emergency reserve is not enough to cover a full month of benefits.
“As Chuck Schumer and his caucus deflect blame in every direction, their voting record is undeniable: they chose politics over feeding families. The American people are not leverage. It’s past time for Senate Democrats to reopen the government and end the needless pain they’ve inflicted across the nation.”
According to background information provided by these Republican leaders:
– Republicans voted to fund all operations of the federal government.
– Republicans also supported uninterrupted funding for programs like SNAP.
– In contrast, Democrats have repeatedly voted against measures that would reopen these services.
– On October 10th, USDA warned that SNAP funding could run out in November if a shutdown continued.
– Emergency reserves cannot sustain even one month of SNAP benefits.
– Republican leaders say restoring SNAP depends on Senate Democrats voting to reopen government operations.
Andy Harris currently serves as U.S. Representative for Maryland’s 1st district after replacing Frank Kratovil in 2011. He has held this seat since then and previously served in both chambers of Maryland’s state legislature from 1999 until his election to Congress in 2011. Harris was born in New York City in 1957 and lives in Cambridge; he graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BS degree in 1977.
