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| Roughly 20 million children rely on SNAP benefits for food each month. (USDA photo) |
The upper banner of the Department of Agriculture's website reads, "The well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1." About one in eight Americans relies on SNAP for food, which includes roughly 20 million children.
The clash between Senate Republicans and Democrats has left each side blaming the other for the continued shutdown and the possibility of a SNAP benefit pause. Democrats refuse to reopen the government until Republicans negotiate with them on Affordable health care subsidies. "Republicans say Democrats must first agree to reopen the government before negotiation," reports Adriana Gomez Licon of The Associated Press.
Democrats had hoped USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins would access a contingency fund to cover most of November's SNAP dollars; however, a USDA memo that "surfaced Friday says 'contingency funds are not legally available to cover regular benefits,'" Licon writes. The document notes that contingency funds are reserved for disaster relief.
Most states have also warned SNAP participants that benefits may not be made available on Nov. 1. Licon reports, "Arkansas and Oklahoma, for example, are advising recipients to identify food pantries and other groups that help with food."
Although some states, including Louisiana and Virginia, have told SNAP beneficiaries they plan to continue food aid, it's unclear whether they can legally do so. Licon adds, "The USDA memo also says states would not be reimbursed for temporarily picking up the cost."
from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/AobqcBK Trump administration announces no food aid for millions of people in November unless government shutdown ends - Entrepreneur Generations
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