Nevada Senate Democrats says in the event a special legislative session is called, the caucus would introduce legislation to fund an alternative Nevada Emergency Nutrition Assistance Program for SNAP beneficiaries in the face of the ongoing federal government shutdown.
As a result of lawsuits brought by Attorney General Aaron Ford and 20 other state AGs, a federal judge ordered the administration on Friday to use the contingency funds to pay benefits immediately. However, SNAP contingency funds will only be sufficient to partially cover November payments to millions of beneficiaries nationwide, including more than 500,000 Nevadans. While the federal Department of Agriculture had said it will comply with the court order, President Trump has also indicated he intends to ignore it.
“I am grateful for Attorney General Ford’s legal efforts to force the Trump administration to reverse its cruel decision to punish 500,000 Nevadans by withholding contingency funding that could pay for SNAP benefits right now,” said Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro. “However, even if the Trump administration does ultimately comply with the court’s order, contingency funds would only cover partial benefits payments for November, and we may still face a situation where the ongoing federal shutdown causes benefits to lapse again at the end of this month. Should the Governor call a special legislative session later this month, Senate Democrats will bring forward legislation to create the Nevada Emergency Nutrition Assistance Program to protect Nevadans who are just trying to put food on the table for their families.”
"Representing a district with one of the highest rates of SNAP usage in our state, this issue is very real for me. While Republicans in Washington, D.C., may choose to play games with our constituents’ financial security, we know the families impacted are not just statistics; they are our neighbors, friends, and fellow community members," said Senator Dina Neal. "We don’t play politics with our neighbors' ability to eat. Nevada has to step up and work towards a solution to this problem. The Nevada Emergency Nutrition Assistance program will help fill the gap for our neighbors who are hurting right now.”
"During my time in the legislature, I have learned that our budget reflects our values. Our values need to include fighting for everyday Nevadans who are struggling with losing food assistance as grocery costs continue to rise," said Senator Marilyn Doodaro Loop. "Despite the ongoing dysfunction in Washington, D.C., here in Nevada, we are dedicated to finding real solutions to this issue, rather than just regurgitating partisan talking points. The Nevada Emergency Nutrition Assistance Program will allow us to step in and provide critical relief to Nevada families.”
(Nevada Senate Democrats)
