FILE – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (Alex Brandon, Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Texas House Democrats sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott urging him to declare a state of emergency and fund SNAP benefits for 3.5 million Texans who will lose food assistance in November due to the government shutdown.
The letter was signed by 57 members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus.
“Families who rely on SNAP to feed their children and seniors who depend on it for groceries will have nowhere to turn,” a portion of the letter read. “…States do have the power to take temporary emergency measures, using state funds to prevent hunger and stabilize families while Congress resolves the federal impasse. Governors in Louisiana and Virginia have already taken decisive action to protect their residents during this period of uncertainty. Texas should do the same.”
Earlier this week, Gov. Abbott called for Democrats in the state senate to end the government shutdown by approving Republican-backed legislation, calling it a “simple and immediate solution.”
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About the AuthorMichael Horton headshotMichael Horton
Michael is a Kingwood native who loves visiting local restaurants and overreacting to Houston sports. He joined the KPRC 2 family in 2024. He earned his BA from Texas A&M University in 2022 and his MA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023.
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