Congressman Deluzio Meets with Western Pennsylvanians Worried about the Looming Lapse of SNAP Food Assistance, People Going Hungry

CARNEGIE, PA - Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) met with several Western Pennsylvanians who rely on federal food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and are worried how they will put food on the table as funding for SNAP will run out in November because of the federal government shutdown. Congressman Deluzio heard firsthand from his constituents how they and their families could go hungry if urgent action is not taken in Washington.

"Thousands of Western PA families are staring down the barrel of a hunger crisis unless the Trump Administration takes immediate action using the emergency funds and authorities Congress has provided," said Congressman Deluzio. "The Trump Administration has no excuse here-they should stop playing politics and make sure these Western Pennsylvanians do not go hungry.'"

Almost 75,000 people in Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District are enrolled in SNAP-two million Pennsylvanians use the program. The vast majority of participating households are families with kids, seniors, and people with disabilities, including veterans.

Last week, Congressman Deluzio joined 213 of his colleagues on a letter pushing the Agriculture Secretaryto use contingency funds that Congress set aside for emergency situations like this, along with existing legal authority to transfer funds, to keep SNAP benefits flowing for November. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined a lawsuitagainst the Trump Administration seeking to force the use of these contingency funds to avoid a shutoff in SNAP benefits.

"If the Trump Administration refuses to use existing contingency funds and transfer authority to fund November SNAP benefits, they are choosing to rip away food assistance from 42 million Americans. That's on top of their $186 billion cut to the SNAP earlier this year. Roughly 16 million kids will go hungry. It's unacceptable to me to play politics with America's hungry seniors, veterans, and families," added Congressman Deluzio.

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