WASHINGTON D.C. – This week as congressional Republicans steered their government shutdown toward a second month, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) took action to protect the SNAP benefits of over 800,000 New Jerseyans, including supporting bipartisan legislation to deliver the funding SNAP needs to continue through the government shutdown. 

However, since Speaker Johnson has kept the House of Representatives in recess for over 40 days, Republican leadership sent the Senate home for the weekend, and President Trump refuses to use the $5 billion in emergency funding available to continue SNAP benefits, federal SNAP funding will lapse at midnight tonight. 

Senator Kim continues to fight to protect SNAP and WIC for thousands of New Jersey families, including by: 

• Joining the entire Senate Democratic caucus to help introduce the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act, led by Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), that would prevent the Trump administration from continuing to illegally withhold available funds for the SNAP and WIC programs. It would direct the immediate release of billions of dollars to ensure benefits continue uninterrupted for the remainder of the year. 

• Co-sponsoring the bipartisan Keep SNAP Funded Act, introduced by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), that would fund SNAP through the government shutdown. 

1. 1. Despite Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announcing that the Democratic caucus would support this legislation, Republican leadership did not bring the bill up for a vote before adjourning for the weekend. 

• Sending a joint statement alongside Democratic members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation on President Trump’s refusal to distribute November SNAP benefits. The statement reiterated, “In Congress, Democrats stand ready to fund the government, deliver for Americans, and protect vital programs like SNAP. We urge Republicans, including Kean, Smith, and Van Drew, to stop playing with their constituents’ lives and come to the negotiating table immediately.”

WATCH: Yesterday, Senator Kim joined CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and condemned President Trump and Speaker Johnson for standing in the way of people getting the healthcare and food assistance they need. 

WATCH: This week, Senator Kim called out the Trump administration on The Joy Reid Show for using hunger as a form of political retribution. 

WATCH: This week, Senator Kim joined ABC News Live and demanded the Trump administration use the $5 billion emergency fund that congress provided for moments like this and ensure 40 million Americans don’t go hungry. 

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