Colorado: Governor Polis Partners with Governors in Urging White House to Stop Disruption to SNAP, Prevent Hunger for Millions of American Families

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DENVER ~ Denver, CO - In the midst of the ongoing federal government shutdown, Governor Jared Polis has joined forces with a group of governors to urge the Trump Administration to prevent any disruption to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program, which provides food access to 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities, is at risk due to a recent instruction from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to stop issuing SNAP benefits for November.

In a letter addressed to the White House, the governors emphasized the importance of SNAP in lifting families out of poverty and allowing them to use their money for other essential needs such as rent, heat, and healthcare. They also highlighted how SNAP supports regular check-ups for infants and children and ensures that older adults can afford both food and medicine.

The impact of SNAP extends beyond just providing food for families. It also supports nearly 388,000 jobs nationwide and generates over $4.5 billion in state and federal tax revenue. In Colorado alone, SNAP is administered by the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and provides grocery benefits to more than 600,000 Coloradans across 330,000 households. Half of these households are made up of children while 10% are elderly and 15% have disabilities.

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To address the potential disruption in SNAP funding, Gov. Polis's office has submitted two requests to the Joint Budget Committee. One request is for up to $10 million in General Fund revenue to support food banks and pantries while the other is an extension of previously approved funding for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition access through November. WIC supports food access for nearly 100,000 women and children in Colorado.

In addition to these efforts by state officials, a new philanthropic initiative through Feeding Colorado has been launched to invite individuals and businesses to donate and help meet the growing demand for food assistance. The state has also created a map to show where Coloradans rely most on SNAP support.

Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera recently visited Arapahoe Ridge Elementary School to meet with students, educators, and local leaders and highlight the continued availability of school meals for children during the shutdown. This visit comes after Gov. Polis, Lt. Governor Primavera, and community leaders announced new steps to protect Coloradans as the federal government's shutdown threatens to halt funding for SNAP.

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This is not the first time Gov. Polis has taken action to ensure food access for Coloradans. In August, he signed a new law called Healthy School Meals For All, which aims to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students in Colorado public schools. In June, he led a coalition of organizations committed to food access and security in urging Congress not to cut off critical SNAP funding for Coloradans. He also joined North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and 22 other governors in calling on Congress not to shift funding responsibility onto states.

As the federal government shutdown continues with no end in sight, Gov. Polis and his fellow governors are working tirelessly to protect the well-being of their citizens by ensuring that vital programs like SNAP continue uninterrupted.

Filed Under: Government, State
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