CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN DEMANDS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PREVENT LAPSE IN FUNDING FOR SNAP, NOT RIP AWAY THE VERY TOOLS FAMILIES USE TO FEED THEIR KIDS

Congressman Pat Ryan Demands Trump Administration Prevent Lapse in Funding for SNAP, Not Rip Away the Very Tools Families Use to Feed Their Kids

Congressman Pat Ryan is demanding that the Trump Administration take all possible steps to ensure that Americans do not lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid the enduring government shutdown

During the shutdown, Trump has given the government of Argentina a $20 billion bailout, authorized a $200 million private jet purchase for Kristi Noem, and begun construction of a $300 million ballroom on the White House grounds; to not use that same authority to feed millions of hungry Americans would be the greatest attack on hardworking Americans in recent memory

If the President fails to act, up to 74,000 people in the Hudson Valley - including kids, seniors, and veterans - will be at risk of losing some or all food assistance in November

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Pat Ryan is urgently demanding that President Donald Trump take all possible action to prevent a lapse in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If the President fails to act, more than 40 million Americans - including 74,000 people in the Hudson Valley - could lose some or all of their food assistance come November.

During the shutdown, Trump has given the government of Argentina a $20 billion bailout, authorized a $200 million private jet purchasefor Kristi Noem, and begun construction of a $300 million ballroom on the White House grounds; to not use that same authority to feed millions of hungry Americans would be the greatest attack on hardworking Americans in recent memory.

"This shouldn't be a partisan issue - it's a simple question of right and wrong. We've already seen Trump's USDA cut 2 million meals from Hudson Valley food banks. Now, 74,000 of our neighbors - kids, seniors, and veterans - are at risk of going hungry. The President can fix this - failing to do so would be a complete and total betrayal of the American people," said Congressman Pat Ryan. "Especially as the Administration spends tax payer dollars to buy private jets, provides cash bailouts to foreign governments and constructs a massive gilded ballroom on the White House grounds, making sure that our hardworking neighbors don't go hungry is more than a noble cause. I am joining my colleagues with an urgent plea to the President to, for once, put politics aside and do the right thing. Protect SNAP."

Congressman Ryan is joining more than 200 of his colleagues in demanding that the President put politics aside and allocate the necessary funds to ensure that no one misses out on essential benefits in November.

SNAP has reserve funding for use in case of shortage or emergency. In fact, according to a September 30th plan released by Trump's USDA in advance of the impending shutdown, "SNAP's operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds." However no formal plan has been announced to release those funds - in fact, USDA has removed that statement from their website, with Secretary Rollins now contradictorily claiming the program's funding will run dry by November.

Additionally, Congressman Ryan was an early critic of USDA's slashing of funds for food banks, and has consistently rallied against catastrophic cuts to food assistance with our local food bank. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) - which partners local farms with food banks to serve food insecure populations - has suffered a 50% cut, forcing the Hudson Valley branch of the Regional Food Bank to provide 2 million fewer meals than last year.The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) also slashed SNAP benefits by nearly $186 billion - the largest cut in the program's history - taking food off the plates of hungry children, seniors, and veterans, By kicking people off their SNAP benefits, by gutting TEFAP funding that helps food banks purchase locally-grown produce from independent farmers, the Trump administration is turning its back on Americans and deliberately choosing to rig the system against families.

The full text of Congressman Ryan's letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins can be found below:

Dear Madam Secretary,

Right now, millions of Americans are struggling to afford food due to the Administration's ill-conceived trade war. Just this year, we've seen household staples like eggs, coffee, and ground beef hit record high prices. Now more than ever, millions of families across the country depend upon the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make ends meet. For far too many veterans, seniors, and children, SNAP benefits are the difference between having food or not. Now, due to the government shutdown, they are facing crippling levels of uncertainty about whether they will be able to afford food next month.

A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country. As the largest food assistance program in the United States, SNAP serves 42 million people. That includes 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans.

That is why we were deeply concerned to see your comments suggesting that SNAP will run out of funding in two weeks and that no SNAP benefits will be issued in November. USDA's shutdown plan acknowledges that "Congressional intent is evident that SNAP's operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds..." USDA still has significant funding available in SNAP's contingency reserve - which Congress provides precisely for this reason - that can be used to fund the bulk of November benefits.

We urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance. Additionally, while the contingency reserve will not cover November benefits in full, we urge USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority at its disposal to supplement these dollars and fully fund November Benefits.

There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their table in November. Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people. We appreciate your consideration of these requests.

###