Gottheimer calls for full funding of November SNAP benefits, action to end government shutdown

LEONIA BOROUGH, N.J. (Bergen County) — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) on Thursday announced new efforts to fully fund November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and end the ongoing federal government shutdown. The announcement came during an emergency food distribution event at Overpeck County Park, organized by Bergen County and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey to assist families impacted by the recent lapse in SNAP aid.

More than 800,000 New Jersey residents and nearly 42 million people nationwide rely on SNAP to help pay for groceries, with the average household receiving about $187 per month.

“Families across New Jersey are facing food insecurity because of the shutdown, and we must act now to get relief to them,” Gottheimer said at the event. “No one should go hungry because of gridlock in Washington.”

Gottheimer outlined several steps he is pursuing to protect SNAP benefits and work toward reopening the federal government:

Calling for continued House sessions: The congressman urged the Speaker of the House to reconvene the chamber weekly until a bipartisan agreement is reached to reopen the government, restore SNAP funding, and prevent Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits from expiring. Gottheimer recently joined Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), and Jeff Hurd (R-CO) in releasing bipartisan principles aimed at extending the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits.

Urging federal action to maintain SNAP payments: Gottheimer called on the Trump Administration to use available funds to continue SNAP benefits, including tariff revenue previously used to support the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. He noted that a federal court has already directed the administration to use $6 billion appropriated by Congress for this purpose.

Preventing future benefit disruptions: Gottheimer said he is also writing to House Appropriations Committee leaders to request an increase in the SNAP contingency fund, which is designed to prevent future lapses in benefits during funding delays.

Thursday’s event at Overpeck County Park distributed emergency food supplies to local residents affected by the SNAP lapse, part of a growing network of food assistance efforts statewide.

“Programs like SNAP are a lifeline for millions of working families,” Gottheimer said. “We need to make sure this critical support continues uninterrupted, no matter what happens in Washington.”