Harper Responds to halt of SNAP Benefits During Government Shutdown

CHICAGO – State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, issued the following statement after the United States Department of Agriculture announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits will come to an end Nov. 1 during the ongoing federal government shutdown: 

“As Chair of the Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee, I have dedicated my career to ensuring that vulnerable communities throughout the state have access to fresh and healthy food. Never did I believe that my fight to advocate for healthy food would expand into a battle to preserve food access as a whole for millions of vulnerable Illinoisans. Donald Trump has spent his time in office working to undermine vulnerable communities and this is no different – he is telling Illinois families that depend on SNAP that he doesn’t care about them. He doesn’t care that mothers and fathers may not be able to feed their children or that those children may suffer permanent developmental harm as a result. There is absolutely no justification for his
actions. My colleagues and I will continue to do everything in our power to protect our families from the heinous actions of this administration.”