TEXAS HOUSE DEMOCRATS FORM COMMITTEE ON TEXAS HUNGER CRISIS AS D.C. REPUBLICANS THREATEN LIFESAVING SNAP BENEFITS
Emergency committee will investigate impacts on Texas families and demand action from State Leadership
**AUSTIN, TEXAS —**Texas House Democrats today announced the formation of a Committee on Texas Hunger Crisis, co-chaired by Rep. Armando Walle and Rep. Toni Rose, to address the looming crisis caused by Congressional Republicans' refusal to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The committee will investigate impacts on Texas families, develop emergency solutions which Democratic members will immediately offer to impacted communities, and convene to coordinate response efforts statewide.
The committee formation comes as the Texas Health and Human Services Commission began notifying recipients that SNAP benefits will be cut off in November if the federal shutdown continues past October 31, threatening $614 million in monthly food assistance for 3.5 million Texans.
“Washington, DC Republicans are playing politics with Texans’ lives — but here at home, we’re going to roll up our sleeves and do everything we can to help our neighbors,” said committee co-chair Rep. Armando Walle (D-Houston). “Half of all SNAP participants in our state are children under 18. We refuse to let Texas kids go hungry.”
“We won’t wait for Congressional Republicans while Texas families wonder how they’ll put food on the table,” said committee co-chair Rep. Toni Rose (D-Dallas). “Over 2 million Texas children and seniors rely on these benefits—no one should have to choose between medicine and groceries, and no child should go to bed hungry because of political gridlock. Texas Democrats won’t let that happen.”
The committee includes 15 members representing all regions of Texas:
Rep. Walle (Co-Chair)
Rep. Rose (Co-Chair)
Rep. Diego Bernal
Rep. Nicole Collier
Rep. Lulu Flores
Rep. Erin Gamez
Rep. Barbara Gervin Hawkins
Rep. Jessica González
Rep. Mary González
Rep. Christian Manuel
Rep. Armando Martinez
Rep. Eddie Morales
Rep. Vince Perez
Rep. Mary Ann Perez
Rep. Erin Zwiener