WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined senate colleagues in sending a letter urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to release billions of dollars in funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to continue serving Nevadans into November.
“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,” the Senators wrote.
“In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance,” the Senators continued. “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 Rosen has been a strong critic of Republicans’ actions to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy by cutting programs like SNAP. Over 505,000 people in Nevada rely on SNAP, the 6th highest population share in America. Senator Rosen was a strong opponent of the extreme republican budget bill that cut SNAP and Medicaid funding, and has been an outspoken supporter of extending the ACA premium tax credits that keep healthcare affordable for thousands of Nevadans.
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