Dear friends and neighbors, As SNAP benefits are set to lapse for more than 440,000 Minnesotans on November 1, I wanted to highlight the resources available to people who may be experiencing food insecurity. If you or someone in our community needs help with food this fall, Hunger Solutions has a list of statewide food shelves and additional resources here. For assistance specifically in Ramsey county, you can search for resources here. In whatever capacity you're able, please consider making a contribution to a local food shelf, whether that's with your time or your resources. I know I will be. They will need our help keeping up with demand.  I start with the topline resources that our community needs, because that is most critical at this time. However, I think it is important to remember the context of why SNAP benefits will soon lapse. So, I briefly want to discuss how we got here and what we're doing at the state level to help Minnesotans maintain critical access to food resources. How We Got Here In July, President Trump signed into law H.R. 1, which made massive federal cuts to Medicaid, including ending the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit under the Affordable Care Act, as well as steep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This fall, we received estimated changes to health care costs to individuals, which showed massive increases due to the expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits in H.R. 1. This article by nonpartisan research firm KFF captures the effects nationally, while this article from the Minnesota Department of Commerce captures the effects in Minnesota. Additionally, these cost increases would largely fall on the back of those who could afford them the least. At the end of September, the Federal Government ran out of money to continue operations, after several "Continuing Resolutions" failed to pass in the Congressional Senate. National Democrats demanded a Continuing Resolution that included an extension of the Premium Tax Credits to prevent the dramatic hikes to health care premiums we are going to see in 2026. National Republicans have largely dismissed this demand, despite broad public support for these Tax Credits. The Federal Government finds itself at a standstill as federal workers remain furloughed and funding for important public benefits like SNAP are set to expire. To my knowledge there are four paths forward in the Congressional Senate to reopen government: - National Democrats accept the huge increases to health insurance premiums in 2026 and beyond by voting for the Republican Continuing Resolution.
- National Republicans accept an extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits by voting for a Continuing Resolution that include those credits, reducing the health care premiums we expect in 2026.
- National Republicans end the filibuster (a procedural rule, not law) in the Senate to force through their Continuing Resolution without Democratic support and thereby cement the huge health care premium increases.
- National Republicans and Democrats come together to negotiate a middle ground.
I'm uncertain of the path forward, but I hope it ends with the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits extended or a comparable solution, negotiated in good faith by national Democrats and Republicans, and a swift end to the Government Shutdown. Though, negotiations are challenging when half of the legislative branch are adjourned. With the Federal Government at a standstill, the state must respond. What We're Doing At the State Level SNAP is a critical lifeline for families to put food on the table, and these cuts come when hunger is rising rapidly under the current Federal Administration. More than 440,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Nearly a third of kindergarteners in Minnesota rely on SNAP, and approximately 152,000 children and 72,000 seniors in Minnesota will lose access to meals due to the Trump shutdown. Recognizing the vital importance of SNAP, the House and Senate DFL caucuses sent a letter to the Trump Administration urging him to use his executive authority to tap into federal contingency funds to keep families and children fed through November. USDA has such a fund with over $5 billion dollars in it, which could be used to provide at least partial benefits to SNAP recipients through next month. In fact, there are over $23 billion in other federal funds that the Trump Administration has authority to transfer to SNAP accounts to continue funding the program. To date, the Trump Administration has chosen not to pursue these avenues. My colleagues and I will continue to remind the administration of the options available to them to take care of people in need. Additionally, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has also filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, alleging that the withholding of current SNAP funds violates federal law. Governor Tim Walz has announced the use of some emergency funds that will be allocated to help prevent starvation in the short-term in Minnesota. If the standoff continues for much longer, we will have to consider additional ways the state can intervene on behalf of people facing food insecurity. For many of our friends and neighbors, this is a scary time. Take care of each other. Lead with grace. And, if you have the means, donate or volunteer at a local food shelf. In solidarity, David Gottfried State Representative House District 40B |