JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Jacksonville City Council members have introduced the SNAP Gap Relief Act to address the disruption in SNAP benefits affecting local households.<\/p>\n
The act proposes investing $2,000,000 to purchase and distribute nutritious food to Duval County residents, prioritizing current SNAP recipients during the federal interruption. Feeding Northeast Florida is designated as the procurement hub, ensuring broad distribution through community partners across the city.<\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cNo family should hit an empty shelf because government hit a pause,\u201d said Council Member Rahman Johnson.\u201cThis legislation is a Jacksonville solution for a federal shortfall, focused on speed, dignity, and accountability,\u201d Johnson added.<\/p>\n The SNAP Gap Relief Act requires 13 votes for emergency passage at the City Council meeting on Wednesday. Council Members Ju\u2019Coby Pittman, Reggie Gaffney, Jr., and Rahman Johnson introduced the act following an emergency meeting convened by Johnson to explore immediate food security relief options.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t about credit, it\u2019s about compassion,\u201d Johnson stated. \u201cAs long as people get help, that\u2019s what matters. Hunger doesn\u2019t care who gets the headline.\u201dThe bill sets tight guardrails on administration, reimbursement, and timelines to ensure funds are converted into meals quickly and transparently.<\/p>\n The City Council meeting will take place at Council Chambers, City Hall at St. James, 117 West Duval Street.<\/p>\n The act aims to activate procurement and distribution immediately upon approval.<\/p>\n [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/a>]<\/p>\n