Rep. Synenberg: House Majority Failed to Act to Help Millions of Ohioans About to Lose SNAP Benefits

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Eric Synenberg (D-Beachwood) Wednesday condemned the Ohio House Majority for failing to act on any measures that could have preserved Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for 1.4 million Ohioans. In two days, more than 500,000 children, more than 250,000 seniors, and an estimated 45,000 veterans in Ohio are at risk of going hungry when the federal government defaults on its November deposit to fully fund SNAP benefit cards. This is due to due to President Trump and Congressional Republicans' refusal to end the federal government shutdown.

“Making sure families, seniors, and children have food on their table should never be a partisan issue,” said Rep. Synenberg. “Ohioans in every county, regardless of party, will feel the impact of the choices made by Republicans in Congress. It’s now our responsibility at the state level to help fill those gaps and anyone who says otherwise has lost sight of who we’re here to serve.”

House Democrats have introduced several solutions to help mitigate the impending humanitarian and financial crisis facing Ohio including: 

House Bill 502: A bill introduced by State Rep. Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus) that would have continued to fund SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) contingent upon a lapse in federal funding. The bill was never referred to a committee, never given a public hearing and never considered for a full vote in the House of Representatives.

An amendment drafted and introduced Wednesday but not taken up would have:

• Created a new fund under the Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services (JFS) to provide emergency funds to Ohio food banks until the federal government shutdown ends or SNAP recipients begin to receive benefits again;
• Appropriated up to $100 million as needed by food banks to meet increased need during shutdown either from Controlling Board emergency purposes fund or rainy day fund;
• Required JFS to work with the Ohio Association of Food Banks (OAFB) to determine a timeframe for distributing funds, as needed; and
• Required OAFB to coordinate and work with Meals on Wheels and other similar nonprofit food delivery organizations to distribute food to the disabled, seniors, and others who may lack transportation. 

Starting Saturday, November 1st, families will be forced to choose between buying food or medicine or keeping the heat on because of the Ohio Legislature House Majority’s failure to respond to this urgent crisis.