Rep. Craig Joins Minority Leader Jeffries, Ranking Member DeLauro to Demand Trump Administration Follow the Law, Fund SNAP for 42 Million Americans Through November
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture Angie Craig joined House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Appropriations Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) in a press conference to demand the Trump Administration use previously appropriated funding to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The President and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins have the appropriated funds and legal authority to help fund SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans in November and ensure that Americans can put food on the table during the Republican government shutdown, but they have chosen not to.
“If the president wanted to help feed hungry Americans, he would. He has shown us that he does whatever the hell he wants to, whether it’s legal or not,” Rep. Craig said in her remarks. “But his actions have shown a callous disregard for America’s seniors, veterans and families with children.”
“The Republicans’ one and only priority this Congress has been the Big Ugly Bill, which not only cut health care by $1 trillion but also cut SNAP by $186 billion – a frontal assault on our most effective basic need food assistance program to help vulnerable members of our community who rely on it to keep food on their tables,” she continued. “Now, the Administration is taking food away from 16 million children, 8 million seniors and 1.2 million veterans.”
“Their hands are not tied,” she continued. “The law is clear – as clear as this Administration’s cruelty is clear. The law is as unambiguous as Congressional Republicans’ desire to let ACA tax credits expire. It is unconscionable. It is egregious. And it is illegal.”
Earlier today, 25 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump Administration for illegally withholding Congressionally appropriated funds that would have helped fund food assistance benefits through November. You can read Rep. Craig’s statement on the lawsuit here. You can watch her interview with MSNBC’s Chris Jansing on the lawsuit and the Administration’s assault on SNAP here.
You can watch the full clip of Rep. Craig’s remarks from today’s press conference here.
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