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[Pages H550-H551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
END HUNGER NOW
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for 5 minutes.
Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I hope the President will start paying
attention to the negative impacts of his pointless government shutdown
when, in coming weeks, his actions deliver a devastating blow to some
of America's most vulnerable families.
In 2018, over 40 million Americans participated in SNAP, the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food
stamps, or about 12 percent of the population.
When the President and Senate Republicans let USDA's funding expire,
the problem didn't just affect Federal employees; it extended to low-
income families, farmers, and businesses.
If this shutdown continues, 40 million Americans will be at even
greater risk of food insecurity as soon as March 2019, not to mention
the millions of Americans who participate in child nutrition programs
like school meals and other programs like WIC, the Women Infants and
Children Food and Nutrition Service.
Last week, Secretary Perdue announced that USDA only has enough money
to fund SNAP until the end of February. This means that in a few short
weeks, millions of American families won't know where their next meal
is coming from simply because the President wanted to throw a temper
tantrum over building a wall.
Now, some may ask, why panic over something that won't happen for
another month? Our timing on this is crucial. Just because we have time
before SNAP, child nutrition programs, or WIC lose funding does not
mean that we should wait until the last minute to fix the problem.
Nearly two-thirds of SNAP participants are children, elderly, or
people with disabilities. In my home State of Massachusetts, over
760,000 people receive assistance. It is a program that is crucial for
low-income, hardworking families.
SNAP is often just a supplement to a person's or family's monthly
food budget. The average SNAP participant receives about $126 a month,
which breaks down to a little over $1.40 per person, per meal.
{time} 1030
Believe it or not, the funds that the President is demanding for his
wall could be used to pay for an entire month of food for all 40
million SNAP participants, and then some.
And while the SNAP funding problem starts with low-income families,
depending on how long this shutdown continues, furloughed Federal
employees themselves may temporarily need to rely on SNAP to keep food
on the table.
The shutdown is also negatively impacting thousands of businesses
that are seeking and updating their SNAP licenses, not to mention the
negative impacts on thousands of farmers who are already feeling the
backlash of the President's tariffs. These same farmers are facing
further setbacks, because they will now face delays in processing and
receiving the exact Federal aid that was promised to help subsidize
their losses.
Madam Speaker, none of this has anything to do with the debate over
border security. The President should not be holding these families
hostage over this debate.
Last Thursday, the House passed a key spending bill to fund the USDA
because we recognize the crippling effects that these funding gaps have
on the American people. We have programs like SNAP, WIC, and Federal
farm loans for a reason: because they make a difference in people's
lives.
We owe it to our constituents to listen to their voices and to do the
job they elected us to do, but we can't do it without the support of
our Senate colleagues. Madam Speaker, our counterparts in the Senate
ought to consider all that is at stake when they shut down our
government. This isn't about partisanship. This is about acting in the
best interest of our constituents.
Today marks the 24th day in what has become the longest Federal
shutdown in our country's history, and we have nothing to show for it.
What a shame. The President ought to consider the real impact his
shutdown is having on Federal employees and low-income families,
children, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
It is not a game, Mr. President. This isn't the art of the deal. Real
people are being hurt. Real lives are being thrown into chaos. Let's
reopen the government so we can have an informed and rational debate
about how best to secure our southern border.
Madam Speaker, I am not going to be silent while millions of families
are caught in the crosshairs of a medieval solution to the real 21st
century challenges this country is facing. Families, children, farmers,
and small businesses don't deserve this. We can't let this government
shutdown get to a point where we fail to provide our most vulnerable
citizens with the food assistance that they need to thrive. That is
cruel.
Let us do the job we were sent here to do. Let's end this stupid
shutdown. Let's stop families from going hungry, and let's end hunger
now.
[[Page H551]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from
engaging in personalities toward the President.
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