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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMillions could face severe cuts to food stamps due to government shutdown
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-shutdown-affect-snap-food-stamps-wic-millions-could-face-severe-cuts-in-2019-funding-usda/The partial government shutdown glided into its third week Saturday with no end in sight. If the government is not reopened before February, millions of Americans who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- the nation's food stamp program -- could have their assistance disrupted.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP at the federal level, is one of the agencies unfunded during the partial government shutdown. Although SNAP is automatically renewed, it has not been allocated funding from Congress beyond January. Congress has appropriated $3 billion in emergency funds for SNAP distribution, but that would not cover all of February's obligations.
In September 2018, the last month for which data is available, $4.7 billion in SNAP benefits were disbursed throughout every state. If the shutdown continues through March, there will be no remaining funding for SNAP, endangering food security for millions of Americans.
According to the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 42 million Americans received SNAP benefits in 2017. More than 68 percent of participants were in families with children, and more than 44 percent were in working families.
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LuckyCharms
(17,472 posts)is that human beings will do what they have to do for their survival, and their children's survival. We all have to eat.
missingthebigdog
(1,233 posts)It also boosts the economy, particularly in rural areas and predominately low-income communities. Those SNAP benefits are income to grocery stores.
womanofthehills
(8,816 posts)We had a Go Fund Me to open our grocery store because we are 40 miles from any other grocery. It took months for the store to be certified to accept food stamps. The store made no profit until it could accept food stamps.
Also, the business sector of our tiny town of under 1000 is boosted because we are surrounded by three pueblo missions - Salinas Pueblo Missions. The 3 missions are closed because of the shutdown and that means hundreds of people who visit the missions will not be coming through our town and spending money.
BumRushDaShow
(130,031 posts)... and 40% of them are white (almost 17 million) and 26% are black (almost 11 million) per this -
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-welfare-black-white-780252
So if they think they are getting back at the "lazy black people" they are in for a rude awakening.
malaise
(269,309 posts)as if they have loads of cash for presidential hostage taking.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211632512
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