EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Borderland representatives Veronica Escobar and Gab Vasquez are asking the federal government to use SNAP reserve funding to continue for the month of November.

Congresswoman Escobar joined 213 of her Democratic colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to release the nearly $5 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program contingency funding that would allow November benefits to go out without interruption.

SNAP benefits were made available to eligible individuals in October.

Over 152,000 people in El Paso, including children, seniors, veterans, and working parents, rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Despite $5 billion available in SNAP’s reserve or ‘contingency fund,’ the Trump Administration has directed states to withhold November benefits that millions of low-income families need,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “There is absolutely no reason for Americans’ SNAP benefits to be suspended considering the funding for November is authorized and readily available. I join my colleagues in calling for the administration to urgently release SNAP contingency funding and to finally come to the table to negotiate ending the shutdown for the good of the American people.

Representative Gabe Vasquez is demanding that Department of Agriculture Secretary Rollins also to use available contingency funds for people in News Mexico to receive their November SNAP benefits on time.

My top priority right now is working across the aisle with Republicans to end this shutdown as soon as possible, but in the interim, while Speaker Johnson remains unwilling to bring Republicans back to D.C. to negotiate, there is absolutely no reason for the administration to withhold SNAP benefits from New Mexican families who need this money to pay for food,” said Vasquez. “The administration must use every tool possible to ensure folks receive their November SNAP benefits on time and find a long-term solution to ensure New Mexicans have access to affordable food.

RELATED: Federal shutdown threatens SNAP benefits, food banks brace for increased demand

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