Senate Republicans on Monday defeated an effort by Democrats to fully fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits after the money ran out over the weekend due to the government shutdown.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) on Wednesday attempted to pass a resolution by unanimous consent that would fund the program amid the shutdown, which is on the verge of becoming the longest in U.S. history. Specifically, his measure would have forced the Agriculture Department to extend SNAP benefits by $8 billion for the month of November.
However, that effort was rejected by Republicans because Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) objected, arguing that the simpler way to ensure those benefits reach 42 million recipients is to reopen the government.
“This is not lawmaking. This is a political stunt by the Democrats. The proposal they are introducing is hollow,” Barrasso said. “It’s meaningless.”
“Democrats knew their actions threatened food aid. They were fully aware of it,” he said, noting that Democrats have voted against the spending bill 13 times. “If Democrats really wanted to help struggling families, they would stop blocking a clean continuation resolution.”
Oregon Democrats made their move with green placards that read: “Trump is weaponizing food for MHA,” an acronym for “Make America Hungry Again.”
“Let’s all come together to ‘fund SNAP,’ not in weeks or months from now, but right now, so America’s families can benefit,” he said.
The move comes after the Trump administration said it would partially fund SNAP out of the Department of Agriculture’s pockets. It would include $5 billion of those funds.
