| Houston, Texas – Harris County has joined the legal fight to force the immediate restoration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that millions of Americans, including more than 2 million Texans, depend on to feed their families. The county joined local governments nationwide in filing a legal brief opposing any further delays. "This is a crisis manufactured by Washington's dysfunction, and millions of Texans are paying the price with empty pantries and impossible choices," said Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee. "We're talking about seniors forced to choose between groceries and medicine. We're talking about working families who play by the rules and still can't make ends meet. We're talking about children going to bed hungry in the wealthiest nation on earth. This isn't just unconscionable, it's a betrayal of the most vulnerable among us."
“No decent government fights to take food away from families, yet this White House is in court trying to do exactly that,” said Commissioner Rodney Ellis. "From government to schools to nonprofits and neighbors helping neighbors, Harris County is stepping up—but it shouldn’t have to. I am proud to have led the effort in recent weeks to commit more than a million dollars to providing meals in our community. My office continues to host food distributions throughout Precinct One. I fully support the fight to protect Harris County residents, and demand this shutdown end now.” "A lawsuit to feed hungry families should not be necessary. The federal government has the funds and the authority to keep SNAP operating right now. While we in Harris County have stepped up to fill in the gaps, it is imperative that the Dept. of Agriculture and the White House stop playing politics when it comes to providing kids and seniors nourishment. They should quit fighting in favor of letting people go hungry and resume fulfilling their previous pledge to fund SNAP benefits,” said Commissioner Adrian Garcia. "I am proud that Harris County is standing with jurisdictions across the United States to demand the Trump Administration fully fund SNAP benefits. No one should go hungry in the wealthiest country in the world,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones. “While the Administration abandons its responsibility to care for children and families, we are fighting back and stepping up to fill the gap. Harris County Precinct 4 is hosting food distributions at our community centers and providing direct financial support to organizations addressing food insecurity. The American people deserve better, and in Harris County, we are putting people over politics.” On Thursday, November 6, a federal district court in Rhode Island ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately pay full SNAP benefits for November. The court's deadline was Friday, November 7. Despite having both the money and legal authority to make these payments, USDA has instead chosen to appeal the order and is expected to ask for a stay, meaning more delays for families who have already gone without food assistance for a week. Since SNAP payments stopped, the impact has been immediate and severe. Food banks are overwhelmed with demand they cannot fully meet. Grocery stores that serve SNAP recipients are losing business and cutting employee hours. Most critically, families are being forced to skip meals or forgo other basic necessities like heating and electricity bills. Local governments, churches, and nonprofits have stepped up with emergency food assistance and direct aid, but these efforts cannot replace the billions of dollars in federal nutrition assistance that families depend on each month. |