Congressman Castro Stands with Families to Demand Congress Restore SNAP Funding
Castro Calls Out Republicans for Illegally Withholding SNAP Benefits, Hurting Texas Families in Need
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) visited the food pantry at Inner City Development, a community-based non-profit serving the Westside of San Antonio. He held a press conference with families impacted by SNAP cuts, Inner City leaders, and members of the community to call on Congress and Texas leadership to restore SNAP funding and keep Texas families fed.
“Millions of Texans are about to lose SNAP benefits—a critical lifeline that keeps food on the table,” said Congressman Castro. “I am proud of the organization in San Antonio at Inner City and the San Antonio Food Bank that are stepping up to meet the growing needs of families in our community. However, Congress must restore SNAP funding. Sadly, Donald Trump and Republicans already have the funding needed but are choosing not to use it. We cannot allow this to happen. Republicans need to re-open the government and make life more affordable for hardworking families.”
“If a family is on the SNAP program, it is a statement that they are already insecure in their ability to feed their children, and with the extreme increase in the cost of food, without an increase in their SNAP allocation, it is near impossible to stretch resources to the end of the month. So, if the SNAP resources are cut off, the situation changes from a very, very difficult situation to one of criminal proportions,” said Patti Radle, Co-Executive Director, Inner City Development.
Background
Inner City Development is a nonprofit, community-based organization that responds to emergency, educational, and recreational needs of the neighborhood on the near Westside of San Antonio in the vicinity of the Alazan-Apache Public Housing Project. It has been operating in this area, the economically poorest area of Bexar County, since 1968. Patti and Rod Radle have served as the Co-Executive Director of Inner City Development since 1971.
Additional Background
This is the first time in SNAP’s 60-year history that the federal government is refusing to provide food assistance to families. The United States Department of Agriculture can fund SNAP in November through its contingency fund and legal transfer authority. The Trump Administration is choosing to cut benefits for 42 million Americans including 3.5 million Texans and this after they already cut SNAP by $186 billion earlier this year in the Republican reconciliation bill. If the Trump Administration does not want to fund November benefits, Congressman Castro is calling on Governor Abbott to fast-track funding to food banks to offset the shortfall using the “Rainy Day Fund,” which has a current balance of $24.28 billion.
In his remarks, Castro highlighted the urgent need for Congress to meet the needs of Texas families who will lose SNAP benefits, saying, “We are entering a crisis for many families—one that will be devastating to families in San Antonio and across the United States of America. On November 1st, people will not receive the SNAP benefits they rely on to put food on their tables. Shutting off SNAP will leave 3.5 million Texans hungry. Donald Trump and the Republicans have funding to keep SNAP benefits flowing yet they are choosing not to. And let me be clear about that—the President has the authority right now to allow people to get their SNAP benefits, but he is holding those hostage....They are exploiting families’ anxiety over their household budget. In other words, they are weaponizing people’s hunger.”
On October 24th, Congressman Castro joined 214 House Democrats in sending a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, urging the agency to use contingency reserves to fund SNAP during the government shutdown. To view the letter, click here.