Sen. Marsha Blackburn, other Republicans push for bill to fund SNAP during government shutdown
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn is joining other Republicans to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the ongoing government shutdown.
Blackburn signed onto the Keep SNAP Funded Act to appropriate funds to provide uninterrupted SNAP benefits, retroactive to the start of the shutdown.
“Roughly one in 10 Tennesseans receive SNAP benefits for food assistance, and they shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from because the Democrats are holding government funding hostage to appease their far-left base,” Blackburn said. “Our Keep SNAP Funded Act would ensure Tennesseans do not miss a meal during the Democrats’ shutdown.”
SNAP puts food on the table for an estimated 700,000 Tennesseans.
Late last week, Tennessee House Democratic Chairman John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) spoke for his party and called on Governor Bill Lee and the state’s Republican leadership to act before nearly 700,000 Tennesseans who rely on SNAP lose access to food.
Clemmons wants Gov. Bill Lee to assemble the legislature for an extraordinary session regarding the situation.
“We have an opportunity… to put politics aside and demonstrate our sincere care and concern for the health and welfare of Tennessee families,” Clemmons said. “We, as state officials, have a duty to step up and lead so that innocent children and disabled and low-income adults do not go hungry or lose vital aid when our state has the means to help them.”
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Shortly after, Tennessee House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) responded to the request by reminding Democrats why these federal programs are at risk.
“This is a crisis created by Democrats, and the blame lies squarely on Rep. Clemmons’s own party for the 700,000 Tennesseans who are about to lose access to food assistance,” Lamberth said. “Since SNAP is funded by the federal government, states do not have the authority to continue it during the shutdown.”
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