Attachments

20251028-131605-4de-Food Assistance Letter.pdf

TALLAHASSEE – On Oct. 28, Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach) and House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) sent a letter signed by every Democrat in the Florida Legislature to Gov. DeSantis urging the state to step in to help the nearly 3 million Floridians set to lose SNAP benefits on November 1^st.

 With the Federal Government shut down due to Republican insistence on tax cuts for wealthy elites funded by massive health care premium increases for millions of Americans, the crucial food assistance program known as SNAP is in danger of running out of funding.

 According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s most important and effective anti-hunger program. It plays a critical role in reducing poverty, improving health and economic outcomes, supporting people who are paid low wages, and serving as the first line of defense against hunger during economic downturns.”

 They also point out that nearly 60% of participants in Florida are in families with children, and every $1 SNAP provides can help a community with up to $1.5 in economic activity.

The SNAP program is widespread, helping 1 out of 8 Floridians afford food. This assistance covers the entire state as well, with urban counties like Miami-Dade and rural ones like Hamilton, Liberty, and Hardee Counties each having more than 20% of households receiving aid in 2023.

The letter (see attached) asks the Governor to declare a state of emergency, direct resources to help and strengthen food distribution programs, and to provide universal free school meals to Florida’s kids during this time of uncertainty. 

In part, it states,

 “SNAP is one of the most effective programs for addressing hunger and food insecurity in the state. Especially after the recent cuts stemming from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, Floridians cannot afford another day without action by the state.

 Florida has the fiscal strength to respond. What’s needed now is the moral will to act.

 No parent should have to choose between paying rent and feeding their kids. No child should go hungry because politicians in Washington can’t agree. We urge you to act immediately.”

Leader Berman said,  

 “Millions of Floridians rely on SNAP — mostly children, seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans — and the sudden loss of those benefits would be an economic and humanitarian nightmare. We have nearly $5 billion in the ‘rainy day fund’ to avert disasters like the one we’re barreling toward this weekend.

“With the stroke of a pen, the Governor can keep food on peoples’ tables. He has a responsibility to the people of this state to put partisanship aside and lead. Refusing to act would be truly heartless.”

 Leader Driskell said,

“The Governor brags about maxing out the rainy-day fund. If millions of hungry Floridians isn't an economic storm, I don’t know what is.

SNAP is for anyone who doesn’t make enough to afford food. These are our friends and neighbors. They’re the people who work in our communities, the kids who sit next to ours in class, and the seniors who built the Florida we inherited.

This is a crisis but an entirely solvable one. We can make sure Floridians do not go hungry.

This governor has never had a problem loudly using the power of the state and its resources to pursue his own personal ambitions. Now, when Floridians need it most, he cannot remain silent.  

 It costs a little more than $6 a day to feed someone. Isn’t every Floridian worth that?”