Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge Trump USDA to Immediately Release November SNAP Benefits

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a letter led by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), along with 42 Senate colleagues to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins calling on the USDA to release the billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November.

The Democrats urged the USDA to use available funding to continue SNAP, writing: "We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will 'run out of money in two weeks.' In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November."

"First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown," the Senators continued.

The Senators concluded, "Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA's plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government."

Read the full letter HERE.

Senator Cortez Masto is a steadfast supporter of Nevada families and will continue to fight to ensure every family is able to put food on the table. Earlier this year, Senator Cortez Masto demanded the Administration reverse its cuts to food purchase and school food assistance programs. The Senator helped pass critical expansions to the Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue plan, and has been fighting to permanently increase this vital relief for working families. Last Congress, Cortez Masto introduced legislation to increase food security in Tribal communities.

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