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119-sres-481119th CongressWALLET

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Department of Agriculture should use its contingency funds and interchange authority to finance the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

Introduced

Summary

This resolution would urge USDA to use its contingency fund and interchange authority to finance SNAP benefits if a funding lapse threatens November 2025 payments. It argues that tapping those funds is legally available and vital to prevent hunger among children and seniors.

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  • Families and children: Would help about 16 million children keep SNAP benefits in November 2025.
  • Seniors: Would help about 8 million seniors maintain access to food assistance.
  • People with disabilities and veterans: Would help about 4 million people with disabilities and 1.2 million veterans avoid gaps in benefits.
  • State operations: Notes contingency funds can be used for State Administrative Expenses so states can keep SNAP operations running during a shutdown.
  • Federal action and funds: Points out the contingency fund totals more than $4.5 billion and the administration could use interchange authority to finance benefits through November 2025.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Keep SNAP benefits paid in November

If adopted, this resolution would urge USDA to use SNAP contingency funds and interchange authority to pay SNAP benefits through November 2025. It would say the administration has the legal authority and available funds to do this. It would note the SNAP contingency fund totals more than $4.5 billion. It would record Congress added $3 billion in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, available through September 30, 2026, and another $3 billion in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, available through September 30, 2027. It would stress protecting about 42,000,000 SNAP participants, including about 16,000,000 children, 8,000,000 seniors, 4,000,000 people with disabilities, and 1,200,000 veterans.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

OR • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

    ME • I

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 11/3/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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