Pennsylvania Lawmakers Propose $62M Grant Program Amid Federal SNAP Funding Cuts

Amid a federal government shutdown causing the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits starting in November, Pennsylvania lawmakers have proposed the Pennsylvania Food and Hunger Relief Grant Program to partially offset food assistance cuts. This program would allocate $50 million from the state's rainy day fund interest to food banks, $10 million to Meals on Wheels Pennsylvania, and $2 million to the state Department of Agriculture, helping support the two million Pennsylvanians affected by SNAP benefit losses. The number of people losing SNAP benefits in Pennsylvania equals the combined populations of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, marking a significant crisis as the state also lacks a current budget, exacerbating the impact. State Senators Art Haywood and Lindsey Williams emphasized the urgency and severity of hunger issues, noting Pennsylvania will be hardest hit among states by these cuts. At the federal level, Senator Ben Ray Luján has introduced legislation aimed at ensuring continued funding for SNAP and other food aid programs during the shutdown, with some bipartisan support emerging. These combined efforts reflect growing concern over food insecurity and the need for immediate action to assist vulnerable populations during political and fiscal impasses.