BISHOP URGES ADMINISTRATION TO FOLLOW THE LAW, RESPECT COURT RULINGS TO RELEASE SNAP FUNDS IMMEDIATELY

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, responded to rulings by federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts that require the Trump Administration to use existing contingency funds to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beyond November 1.

“Once again, federal courts have ruled actions by this Administration unlawful. Two federal judges have now ruled that the Administration has a mandate – by law – to use the $5 billion in dedicated SNAP contingency funds, and that it also has the authority to transfer more funds to SNAP to ensure full benefits can be paid in November. The administration must take this action now to help prevent over a million Georgians and millions more people across this country from going hungry,” noted Congressman Bishop.

“Last week, my colleagues and I sent a letter to USDA urging them to use these contingency funds and their full legal authority to provide SNAP benefits. Not only did our request go unanswered, but the Administration has falsely claimed, repeatedly, that it could not do so and passed the buck and blame,” added Congressman Bishop. “Today’s rulings show once again that the Administration is not being honest with the American people, and now Americans risk going hungry because of it.”

You can read the October 24 letter from Congressman Bishop and House Democrats sent to the USDA, on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee Democrats’ website.

Earlier today, Congressman Bishop was in Midland, Georgia, visiting Feeding the Valley and meeting with community organizations to talk about the importance of SNAP to Georgia’s families and farmers.

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PHOTO: Congressman Bishop with community leaders and nutrition program advocates in Midland, GA