[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 141 (Tuesday, September 29, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H6310-H6311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                             END HUNGER NOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, while there is talk of a 2-month spending 
bill to keep the government open before time runs out this week, we 
have yet to see it. Passing a short-term bill will only postpone a 
Republican shutdown, not stop it. As long as it remains a possibility, 
we need to talk about the cost to everyday families.
  Unlike the last Republican shutdown in 2013, closing the government's 
doors this time around means millions and millions of Americans may be 
cut off from their Federal food assistance benefits.
  Forty-five million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program, or SNAP, to help put food on the table. SNAP is our 
Nation's premier antihunger program, and it is one of the most 
effective and efficient of any Federal programs.
  Two-thirds of all SNAP recipients are the most vulnerable among us: 
children, seniors, and the disabled. Millions more are working families 
who

[[Page H6311]]

may be working one, two, or three jobs just to make ends meet, and 
sometimes it is still not enough. SNAP is a critical program that 
millions of Americans depend on to keep from going hungry.
  Mr. Speaker, during the last Republican shutdown in 2013, SNAP had 
contingency funds available from the stimulus law that meant SNAP 
benefits continued uninterrupted. But stimulus funding was cut off in 
November of 2013. So this time around there is no back-up plan for 
SNAP.
  Current law prevents the U.S. Department of Agriculture from spending 
SNAP money it doesn't have. Without congressional action, USDA will be 
forced to shut off retailers from accepting SNAP benefits within the 
first few days of October.
  That means families won't be able to use their SNAP benefits to 
purchase food at any store that normally accepts SNAP, including 
grocery stores, big-box retailers, and corner stores.
  Mr. Speaker, it is unfathomable to me that this would happen, that 
Republicans would threaten the food benefits of tens of millions of 
American children, families, and seniors, all just to score political 
points with their right-wing base. Whether Republicans shut down the 
government this week or in December, it is unacceptable to leave 
struggling families out in the cold.
  As our economy continues to recover, I would remind my colleagues 
that SNAP is one of the quickest, most effective economic multipliers 
we have. Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates about $1.70 in economic 
activity.
  About 80 percent of SNAP benefits are redeemed within 2 weeks of 
receipt, and about 97 percent are spent within a month. Every day SNAP 
pumps money back into our local economies and supports local 
businesses.
  SNAP benefits can only be spent on food, meaning that a family can 
use its other income to meet its other essential needs, like paying 
rent, utilities, and medical care.
  Mr. Speaker, not only would a government shutdown have a devastating 
impact on hungry families, it has the potential to result in serious 
economic harm to retailers that could ripple throughout our economy.
  Already food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens are bracing to 
serve an influx of clients if SNAP benefits are cut off. But despite 
the incredible work they do, these charities are already overburdened. 
The demand for food assistance is incredibly high.
  They are working tirelessly every day to meet the need, and charities 
are already forced to pick up the slack from an inadequate SNAP 
benefit. All too often the benefit runs out before the end of the month 
and families must turn to charities just to cobble together enough to 
eat.
  I cannot begin to imagine how overwhelmed antihunger agencies will be 
if millions of Americans lose access to SNAP next month or the month 
after. Unfortunately, in a Republican-controlled Congress with the 
habit of going from one crisis to the next, this scenario is all too 
realistic.
  A government shutdown would literally take food away from hungry 
Americans. It would be devastating for millions of Americans that are 
already struggling to put food on the table and make ends meet. 
Families who rely on SNAP cannot afford to have their food benefits 
disrupted even for a day.
  Mr. Speaker, we should be working to end hunger now, not making 
hunger worse in this country, the richest country in the world. Quite 
frankly, it is unconscionable we are even in a situation where millions 
of hungry people are at risk of losing their food benefit.
  Last week Pope Francis delivered an inspiring message to Congress. It 
is unthinkable that we could so quickly forget his call for compassion 
in helping the least among us. For millions of American families who 
are already struggling to put food on the table, we should be giving 
them a hand up, not taking food away.
  Nobody in this Chamber will go without food if the Republicans shut 
down the government. None of our kids will go without food, but 
millions and millions of our fellow citizens will.
  For the sake of 45 million Americans across the country and more than 
700,000 in Massachusetts who depend on SNAP, I urge my Republican 
colleagues to work with Democrats on a long-term, bipartisan budget 
that puts families first. Families who rely on SNAP shouldn't have to 
worry about losing their benefits at the end of every short-term 
funding bill.
  Whether it is this week or in December, our most vulnerable families 
simply cannot afford another government shutdown.

                          ____________________