Brownley Holds Press Conference Demanding Republicans End Government Shutdown and Protect SNAP

Santa Paula, CA - Yesterday, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) held a press conference at Santa Paula City Hall to renew her demands for Republicans to end the government shutdown and protect Americans' access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Joined by Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez and Santa Paula Mayor Pedro Chavez, Brownley condemned the Trump administration for deliberately putting millions of families at risk of going hungry.

"For more than six weeks now, House Republicans have been on paid vacation while President Trump hosts extravagant parties and demolishes the East Wing to build a salacious ballroom for his wealthy friends and wealthier donors," said Congresswoman Brownley. "Meanwhile, families across America - and right here in Ventura County - are struggling to put food on the table."

SNAP provides critical food assistance to 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans. In July, Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans enacted the largest cuts to food assistance in U.S. history through their so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill," slashing nearly $200 billion from the program to pay for massive tax breaks for billionaires and corporations.

"Donald Trump had the funds and the legal authority to ensure families didn't go hungry on November 1 - but he chose not to," Brownley continued. "Instead, he's sending $40 billion to bail out Argentina while American children go hungry. Let's be clear: this was a deliberate choice - a weaponization of hunger to score political points. It's cruel. It's unnecessary. And it's un-American."

Brownley noted that Congress set aside billions in contingency funds to keep SNAP running during emergencies, like this shutdown, and Congress has authorized USDA to also transfer funds from other programs to SNAP, such as from tariff revenues. Yet, even after two federal judges ordered the Trump Administration to pay SNAP benefits, Trump is only allowing partial payments from the contingency funds and refusing to transfer funds to cover the SNAP shortfall. While the court cases continue, House Speaker Mike Johnson also refuses to call the House back to work to address this crisis.

"Republicans are holding the government hostage rather than working with Democrats to fix the chaos and crisis they created," Brownley said. "This is not leadership - it's a complete abdication of responsibility. Democrats are ready to work - to reopen the government, restore food assistance, and protect affordable health care for families, veterans, seniors, and children."

Brownley also thanked local organizations for stepping up to meet urgent needs during the shutdown.

"I want to thank Food Share, volunteers and the many food pantries throughout our county who are stepping up to help people during this time," said Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez, Fifth District. "This shutdown may appear to be a distant issue happening thousands miles from Ventura County. But it is not; it is happening here and it is impacting local families as Cal Fresh benefits have been delayed. It is imperative that this shutdown ends - the well-being of our communities depends on it."

"These attacks on working families like those here in Santa Paula - go against the very values we cherish as Santa Paulans and as Americans," said Pedro Chavez, Mayor of the City of Santa Paula. "

Following the press conference, Brownley joined Food Share Ventura County and community volunteers for a meal distribution at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, underscoring that no family in America should ever have to wonder where their next meal will come from because of political games in Washington.

Photos from the press conference can be found here. Photos from the meal distribution can be found here.

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Issues: 119th Congress