Rep. Lett Urges Governor DeWine to Use Emergency Funds for SNAP Recipients

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Crystal Lett (D-Columbus) joined the House Democratic Caucus Tuesday, urging Governor DeWine to preserve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for 1.4M Ohioans. In two days, more than half million children, more than 250,000 seniors, and an estimated 45,000 veterans are at risk of going hungry when the federal government defaults on its November deposit to fully fund SNAP benefit cards due to President Trump and Congressional Republicans' refusal to end the federal government shutdown.

“Ohio families are going to be in crisis in a matter of days. As a state legislature, we owe Ohioans a lifeline, whether this looks like House Bill 502, utilizing emergency funds, or expediting funds to food banks. It is absolutely unacceptable to abandon vulnerable parents, children, and seniors who rely on this assistance—particularly after our state operating budget did not properly invest in food banks earlier this year. I call on my Republican colleagues to join us in acting immediately in protecting Ohio’s most vulnerable,” said Rep. Lett.

Ohio Republicans Wednesday refused to take up several possible solutions introduced by House Democrats to help mitigate the impending humanitarian and financial crisis facing Ohio including: 

House Bill 502: A bill introduced by State Rep. Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus) that would have continued to fund SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) contingent upon a lapse in federal funding. The bill was never referred to a committee, never given a public hearing and never considered for a full vote in the House of Representatives.

An amendment drafted and introduced Wednesday but not taken up would have:

• Creates a new fund under the Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services (JFS) to provide emergency funds to Ohio food banks until the federal government shutdown ends or SNAP recipients begin to receive benefits again;
• Appropriates up to $100M as needed by food banks to meet increased need during shutdown either from Controlling Board emergency purposes fund or rainy day fund;
• Requires JFS to work with Ohio Association of Food Banks (OAFB) to determine timeframe for distributing funds, as needed; and
• Requires OAFB to coordinate and work with Meals on Wheels and other similar non profit food delivery organizations to distribute food to the disabled, seniors, and others who may lack transportation. 

Come Saturday, November 1st, families will be forced to choose between buying food or medicine or keeping the heat on because of Ohio Republicans’ failure to respond to this urgent crisis.

Please find the letter that was sent to Gov. DeWine attached to this press release.