(The Center Square) – Tennessee families impacted by the pending loss on Saturday of food assistance caused by the federal government shutdown have been provided additional resource possibilities in a one-stop location by second-term Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee.
The governor’s office has launched FeedTN.org, a platform with connections and opportunities for those able to help serve.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, colloquially known as SNAP or food stamps, will not have sufficient funding for November, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Benefits from previous months an electronic benefits transfer cards will be available for use.
In a statement Thursday, Lee said, “I’m grateful to the nonprofit and faith-based partners who are stepping up to fill the gap and sincerely hope that Democrats choose to reopen the federal government – not only to serve SNAP recipients, but also the millions of Tennesseans who are forced to pay the consequences of their disappointing failure.”
Tennessee, Lee’s office said, doesn’t have ability to load state dollars onto the EBT cards for the federally funded and operated program.
More than 300 nonprofit and faith-based leaders across all 95 counties are coordinating efforts within the Governor’s Faith Based and Community Initiative. Use of ZIP codes on the FeedTN.org page will connect residents with resources.
The federal government shut down on Oct. 1 for the first time since a 35-day stoppage bridging 2018 and 2019. At 30 days on Thursday, this shutdown has already surpassed the 1995-96 stoppage of 21 days for No. 2 in terms of length.
The Republican majority U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution in September. The Republican majority Senate is stalled in filibuster led by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., unable to get seven votes to reach the threshold of 60 needed to pass the legislation and unwilling to compromise on the House legislation.
Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., the deputy whip in the chamber, in a network interview said, “Shutdowns are terrible, and, of course, there will be families who will suffer. We take that responsibility very seriously. But it is one of the few leverage points we have.”
Schumer has asked for closed-door meetings with second-term Republican President Donald Trump, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota. Transparency has been Johnson’s repeated response.
In addition to Democrats in the House rejecting the continuing resolution in September, Democrats in the Senate have rejected it 13 times following Tuesday morning’s vote.
Nationally, more than 40 million Americans rely on SNAP.
