Congresswoman Brown Joins House Democrats in Urging USDA to Disburse November SNAP Benefits

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) today joined 214 House Democrats in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use available contingency funds and all legal authority to ensure that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are distributed for November despite the ongoing government shutdown.

In a letter co-led by Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-5) and the members urge USDA to use SNAP’s contingency reserve to fund November benefits and to issue clear guidance to states on benefit issuance. The letter also calls on USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or other legal means to fully fund November benefits if contingency funds alone are insufficient.

With the shutdown now entering its 23rd day, more than 42 million Americans, including 1.4 million Ohioans, face uncertainty about whether they will receive the food assistance they rely on to feed their families.

“After shutting down the government instead of keeping health care affordable for working families, Trump and Republicans in Washington are now threatening to let families go hungry to score political points,” said Congresswoman Brown. “Let’s be clear — the money to keep SNAP running is sitting right there. The Administration has the power to use it in November, and they must. There is absolutely no excuse for holding Ohio families hostage or choosing to let children go hungry when the funds are available today.” 

Brown has consistently called for protecting access to food assistance during the shutdown. Earlier this month, she joined her Ohio Democratic Delegation colleagues in a letter to Governor Mike DeWine, urging the state to bridge any temporary gap in SNAP and WIC funding should federal support lapse.

Brown also serves as the lead sponsor of H.R. 2016, the Feed Our Families Act, alongside Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (OH-13), which would ensure SNAP benefits continue automatically during any future federal shutdown.

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