3.5 MILLION TEXANS TO LOSE FOOD ASSISTANCE AS ABBOTT AND TRUMP REFUSE TO ACT
Governor ignores Democratic plea to declare emergency as Republican shutdown strips $617 million in monthly benefits
**AUSTIN, TEXAS — **Starting today, 3.5 million Texans will begin to lose access to food assistance as Governor Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump refuse to take action to protect families from the Republican government shutdown. Despite a formal request from Texas House and Senate Democrats, Abbott has offered no response and taken no action to prevent the hunger crisis now unfolding across the state.
Congressional Republicans shut down the government because they refuse to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits that 3.3 million Texans are already using to afford health insurance. Rather than fund both healthcare and food assistance as has been done successfully for over a decade, Republicans manufactured a false choice and decided to hold SNAP benefits hostage.
“Republicans control the presidency, the US House, the US Senate, and the State of Texas. They shut down the federal government to attack Texans’ healthcare, and now they’re letting 3.5 million Texans go hungry,” said Texas House of Representatives Minority Leader Rep. Gene Wu. “Greg Abbott had the power to protect Texas families while Washington dysfunction works itself out. He chose to do nothing. Every hungry child in Texas today and across the length of this manufactured crisis is a direct result of Republican choices and their cruelty."
Texas House Democrats delivered a letter to Governor Abbott on Thursday requesting he immediately declare a state of emergency and authorize temporary state funds to maintain SNAP benefits until federal funding resumes. Governors in other states have already taken this action to protect their residents. Abbott has refused to act.
“I grew up on food stamps and that program was a lifeline for my family as we got back on our feet,” said **Rep. Armando Walle **(D-Houston), co-chair of the HDC Committee on the Texas Hunger Crisis. “Today marks a tragedy in our country and in our state. Texas still has the opportunity to lead by example here and help millions of families keep food on the table.”
“Hunger knows no party lines, and neither should our state’s response,” said Rep. Toni Rose (D-Dallas), co-chair of the HDC Committee on the Texas Hunger Crisis. “No Texan should go hungry because of partisan games; that’s why we are taking decisive action to protect Texas families. We will not abandon our neighbors in their time of need.”
“Despite Friday's court ruling that the Trump administration must resume the SNAP program, a lapse in benefits has begun and Texans are suffering,” said Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu (D-Houston). “Now more than ever, our local food banks need our help.”
Texas House Democrats are organizing community resources, coordinating with food banks, and creating local emergency response plans through the Committee on the Texas Hunger Crisis. The committee will continue investigating impacts on Texas families and developing solutions that Democratic members can immediately offer to affected communities.