Press Release:  ICYMI: Republicans’ Government Shutdown Will Take Food Off the Table for 1.9 Million Illinoisans

Springfield, IL — As Republicans in Congress and Trump continue to block negotiations and jeopardize health care for 22 million Americans, their failure to do their jobs now puts SNAP – a 100% federally funded program – at risk. If Republicans don’t reopen the government, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will stop funding SNAP and 1.9 million Illinoisans will stop receiving food assistance in just 14 days. While Illinois families face hunger, Kristi Noem confirmed that ICE agents – who have wreaked terror on Illinois communities – will still get paid during the shutdown. In response, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Hernandez said the following:

“Each day that the Trump Administration and Republicans let their shutdown drag on is another reminder of their broken promises and misplaced priorities. They claim to be the party for working families, yet this shutdown exists because they’re holding families’ paychecks hostage to protect tax cuts for billionaires. They’re refusing to save health care for 22 million Americans, and now they’re willing to let 1.9 million Illinoisans – including children – go hungry. Somehow, they can find the money to pay the ICE agents who have terrorized our communities, but not to keep food on our kids’ tables.”

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