Rep. Salazar Co-Sponsors “Keep SNAP Funded Act” to Protect Food Assistance During Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) joined Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) in introducing the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 (H.R. 5822), a bill that guarantees continued food assistance for millions of Americans during the ongoing government shutdown.

The legislation directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operations throughout any lapse in funding, ensuring that no family loses access to groceries because of Washington’s political gridlock. 

“SNAP keeps families stable during difficult times by ensuring they can buy groceries and put food on the dinner table. It’s not a distant policy; it’s our neighbors’ lifeline, with one in eight Americans depending on it,” said Rep. Salazar. “That’s why I co-sponsored the Keep SNAP Funded Act. This bill ensures that benefits continue and Miami families don’t lose vital support during the shutdown. Food should never be used as a political weapon.” 

“Iowa doesn’t have an abundance of food banks and pantries to absorb a major lapse in SNAP,”  said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “Any delay would be catastrophic for thousands of families already struggling with the cost of living. This bill provides the certainty they deserve while Congress works to resolve the shutdown.”

This bill would provide the Secretary of Agriculture with access to emergency funds to maintain SNAP operations throughout any government shutdown, as well as retroactive authority to restore missed benefits in the event of a lapse. Representative Maria Salazar remains focused on ensuring that the people of Florida District 27 have access to the services they need despite the government shutdown. 

The introduction of this legislation adds on Representative Salazar's record of action to protect Floridians during the shutdown, including: 

• Voting to keep the government open by supporting the House-passed continuing resolution (CR), to fund government operations and protect key programs while negotiations continue. 
   
• Joining members of the Republican Women Caucus in sending a letter to female Democratic senators urging immediate action to end the shutdown. The letter called to protect programs like WIC.

Background:

Due to Congressional Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR), approximately 42 million individuals will not receive their SNAP benefits come November 1st. This jeopardizes all SNAP recipients in November, including those that have applied for benefits in the last half of October, and furloughed Federal employees who will not receive their combined October/November benefits. 

In Florida, nearly 3 million people rely on SNAP. Nearly a quarter of households in Miami-Dade rely on SNAP, and in District 27, 17% of households use SNAP.

Co-Sponsors of this bill include:

Rep. Max L. Miller [R-OH-7], Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar [R-FL-27], Rep. Juan Ciscomani [R-AZ-6], Rep. Monica De La Cruz [R-TX-15], Rep. Brett Guthrie [R-KY-2], Rep. Ryan Mackenzie [R-PA-7], Rep. Thomas H. Kean [R-NJ-7], Rep. James Comer [R-KY-1], Rep. Andy Barr [R-KY-6], Rep. Robert P. Bresnahan [R-PA-8], Rep. Zachary Nunn [R-IA-3], Rep. Jeff Hurd [R-CO-3], Rep. Christopher H. Smith [R-NJ-4].