WASHINGTON (AP) – Republican leaders in Congress on Wednesday rejected Democratic pressure to find funding to continue food assistance to the more than 40 million Americans who are at risk of losing it, calling it “all or nothing.” government shutdown.
Democrats have called for negotiations with Republicans to extend expired health care subsidies and have repeatedly voted against reopening the government. But they called for swift approval of the bill to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the meantime.
“This is simple, it’s moral and it’s urgent,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday while calling for passage of SNAP funds.
Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R.S., was furious at the Democrats’ request, calling it a “cynical attempt to provide political cover” for Democrats to continue the government shutdown, now in its 29th day.
“We’re not going to let them pick winners and losers,” Thune said. “It’s time to fund everyone.”
If Democrats want to prevent the damage caused by a government shutdown, “Democrats can end it,” Thune said.
The increasingly vitriolic rhetoric from lawmakers on Capitol Hill reflects growing frustration and pressure as the SNAP deadline looms and federal workers and military members face missed paychecks this week.
Vulnerable families could soon see federal funding dry up in several other programs as well — according to certain sources. Head Start Preschool Program to help mother taking care of newborn baby Through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC.
SNAP deadline looms for millions of Americans
The Department of Agriculture announced on its website that SNAP benefits will end on Friday. “The bottom line is that the well has run dry,” the statement said.
About two dozen states have filed suit, saying President Donald Trump’s administration has the money to continue the benefits and is legally required to do so. Schumer said SNAP benefits have never been stopped during previous government shutdowns and that President Trump is “choosing politics over the lives of hungry children.”
Meanwhile, Republican leaders blamed Democrats. The solution, they say, is for Senate Democrats to allow Senate Democrats to pass short-term funding measures that have been rejected 13 times in the chamber.
“Things are getting very tough for the American people,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said at the beginning of the daily news conference that has become a staple of government shutdowns.
Conflict and blame game continue
The House of Commons has been out of session since mid-September, and Johnson has been adamant that it will not reopen until the House of Lords passes a bill to fund the government, which the House of Commons passed on September 19.
Senate Democrats have shown no public signs of backing away from their assertion that the government funding bill also includes support for the millions of Americans who buy health insurance on exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act.
The conflict shows little sign of easing. Thune told reporters that “higher level discussions” were taking place with Democrats this week, and talks continue between senators from both parties over a potential health care compromise.
But the underlying dynamics of the impasse remain unchanged. Thune and other Republicans continue to press rank-and-file Democrats to vote to reopen the government before the Senate begins talks to extend health care benefits. That is the strategy that has been in place for nearly a month.
On Tuesday, air traffic controllers missed Their pay and Transport Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concern that there could be more plane delays as air traffic controllers became increasingly stressed and reported feeling unwell. Also on Tuesday, Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters after a private meeting with Senate Republicans that he believed U.S. military officials would continue to respond in a similar manner. paid At the end of the week, he did not reveal how.
SNAP patch hangs
In a press conference, House Democrats called on President Trump to return from a trip to Asia to address the issue.
“If the president wants to feed America’s hungry children, he will do it,” said Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota, the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, which oversees food aid programs. “I’m asking the president to come back from Asia and do what’s right and what’s moral.”
While Republicans opposed the SNAP benefit continuation bill, Democrats said they would support a similar bill from Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who has introduced a separate bill that would provide immediate funding for the program.
But Thune said Republicans would not allow a gradual process. He called on Democrats to support legislation that fully extends government funding and reopens the government.
“If Democrats really want to fund SNAP and WIC, we have a bill for them,” he said.
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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Stephen Groves and Matt Brown contributed to this report.
