Klobuchar Statement on USDA Cutting off Food Assistance from Americans in Need

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcing it will withhold food assistance for families in need by refusing to use contingency funding to cover the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) starting November 1.

"The Administration is choosing not to feed Americans in need-choosing to inflict pain on families-despite knowing that it has the authority to do so. That is unacceptable. Hunger isn't a bargaining chip."

Klobuchar previously joined Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and 43 colleagues in calling on the USDA to release the funding at its disposal to ensure SNAP is funded in November.

The Administration itself acknowledged in its now-deleted lapse of funding plan that Congressional intent is evident that SNAP operations should continue since multi-year contingency funds are available to pay for SNAP benefits and state administrative funds in the event of a shutdown.

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