U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
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Baldwin Urges Trump's USDA to Immediately Release November SNAP Benefits
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release:
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Baldwin Urges Trump's USDA to Immediately Release November SNAP Benefits
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a group of her colleagues in calling on the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release the billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November. President Trump and the USDA have the legal authority and ability to fund SNAP in the coming months, but thus far are refusing to do so and
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release:
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Baldwin Urges Trump's USDA to Immediately Release November SNAP Benefits
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a group of her colleagues in calling on the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release the billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November. President Trump and the USDA have the legal authority and ability to fund SNAP in the coming months, but thus far are refusing to do so andcutting off 700,000 Wisconsin families who rely on food assistance from SNAP from getting support come November. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced Wednesday that Wisconsin families on Food Share, Wisconsin's SNAP program, will feel the impact starting November 1.
"We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will 'run out of money in two weeks,'" said Baldwin and her colleagues. "In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November."
"In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA's plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government," t he Senators concluded.
In Wisconsin alone, approximately 700,000 people are at risk of losing their food assistance benefits if the USDA does not utilize available funding to continue the program. Additionally, every Wisconsin Republican in Congress voted earlier this year for the largest cut to the SNAP program in history.
The letter is led by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), and also co-signed by 42 of their Senate colleagues.
The full text of the lawmakers' letter is available here and below.
Dear Secretary Rollins,
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is our nation's largest food assistance program, serving 42 million people, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities. Any halt in SNAP funding will have devastating impacts for program beneficiaries, increasing food insecurity and undermining family budgets. Given the critical importance of SNAP benefits, the USDA must take all steps possible to ensure that families do not go hungry.
We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will "run out of money in two weeks." In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November. First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown. In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November.
Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA's plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.
Sincerely,
An online version of this release is available here.
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Original text here: https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-urges-trumps-usda-to-immediately-release-november-snap-benefits
Baldwin Opposes Trump's Pick for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release:
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Baldwin Opposes Trump's Pick for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after voting against President Trump's pick for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Rebecca Taibleson:
"Wisconsinites expect judges who have relevant experience, respect everyone's rights and freedoms, and will deliver justice fairly and impartially. I have reviewed Ms. Taibleson's application, her previous work and
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release:
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Baldwin Opposes Trump's Pick for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after voting against President Trump's pick for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Rebecca Taibleson:
"Wisconsinites expect judges who have relevant experience, respect everyone's rights and freedoms, and will deliver justice fairly and impartially. I have reviewed Ms. Taibleson's application, her previous work andstatements, and her confirmation hearing, and sadly, she does not meet those standards and what Wisconsinites deserve."
In Ms. Taibleson's confirmation hearing, she refused to say that Obergefell v. Hodges, which ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples, was decided correctly. This comment came as she said that other cases that had come before the court were decided correctly. Ms. Taibleson also said that Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and stripped women of their right to an abortion, is settled law.
While the nominee was put forth by the bipartisan nominating commission that Senators Baldwin and Ron Johnson (R-WI) set up, Baldwin made clear that forwarding those recommendations was not an endorsement of the identified candidates.
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Original text here: https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-opposes-trumps-pick-for-the-seventh-circuit-court-of-appeals
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans & Atmosphere Nominee Petty Testifies Before Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee released the following testimony by Timothy R. Petty, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of Commerce for oceans and atmosphere, from an Oct. 22, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and distinguished Members of the Committee--thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.
I am deeply honored to be nominated by President Trump to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at the Department of Commerce. I also want to thank Secretary
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee released the following testimony by Timothy R. Petty, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of Commerce for oceans and atmosphere, from an Oct. 22, 2025, confirmation hearing:
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Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and distinguished Members of the Committee--thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.
I am deeply honored to be nominated by President Trump to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at the Department of Commerce. I also want to thank SecretaryLutnick for his confidence in me, and Senator Risch for his kind introduction and for his steadfast leadership on behalf of the people of Idaho and the nation.
It is a privilege to be here, and I respectfully ask for your consideration and consent to this nomination.
Before I begin, I'd like to take a moment to recognize my family. My wife, Elaine, is here with me today--her support has been my foundation throughout this journey. My parents and four siblings are watching remotely from the family farms back in Indiana. My mother, Esther, is 93, and my stepfather, Vernon, is 97. Their resilience, faith, and work ethic have been a guiding light in my life.
I was born and raised on a family farm in Grant County, Indiana. Our farm was more than a livelihood--it was a classroom, and a place where I learned the values that have shaped my life: hard work, faith, and service. From milking cows before sunrise, to bailing hay in the summer heat, to watching the skies for signs of rain that could make or break a season, I came to understand the deep connection between people and the land. Our farm bordered a river and a gravel pit, which sparked my early fascination with water, geology, and the natural systems that sustain us.
That curiosity led me to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Geosciences at Purdue University. I began my career in the private sector, working as a geologist and hydrogeologist in Indiana, California, and abroad. I learned the intricacies of groundwater systems, seismic activity, and the environment. But I also realized that science alone wasn't enough--we needed sound policy to guide how we manage our natural resources. That realization brought me to Washington, where I joined the Senate under Senator(s) Connie Mack, Rick Santorum, and Senator Risch.
During my time in the Senate, I've had the privilege of working with many of you and your staff. Whether it was advancing hydropower legislation, supporting tribal water rights settlements, or strengthening our water infrastructure and environment, I've seen firsthand the power of collaboration and the importance of science-based policymaking.
I later earned a Ph.D. in Water Resource Science from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. My doctoral research focused on surface hydrology and digital transformation--an area I pursued after witnessing the need for more timely and accurate flood forecasting during my time at the Interior.
At the Department of the Interior, I was honored to serve twice--first under the George W. Bush Administration, and later as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science under the Trump Administration. In these roles, I provided oversight for the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation, managing programs critical to our nation's water security and scientific advancement.
These experiences deepened my understanding of the complex interplay between science, policy, and public service. They also reinforced my belief that effective stewardship of our oceans and atmosphere requires not only technical expertise, but collaboration, and a commitment to transparency.
Most recently, I've served in the House of Representatives under Chairman Sam Graves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, focusing on water resources and environment. This included work with the Army Corps of Engineers, the EPA, NOAA, and other key agencies whose missions are rooted in the protection and sustainable use of our water and coastal resources.
If confirmed, I will bring my full energy, experience, and dedication to advancing NOAA's mission. I will champion innovation, transparency, and collaboration. I will listen to the voices of scientists, stakeholders, and communities. And I will work to ensure that our policies are grounded in sound science and guided by the public good.
I look forward to supporting NOAA's dedicated workforce and advancing its critical work in oceanic research, weather forecasting, fishery monitoring, and environmental resilience. Together, we can ensure that our oceans and atmosphere are managed wisely--for today's needs and for future generations.
Thank you again for considering my nomination. I look forward to your questions and to the opportunity to serve.
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/57914E5E-B53F-43FE-9F76-D7CD33C07396
Arrington Sounds Alarm as National Debt Surpasses $38 Trillion
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, issued the following news release:
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Arrington Sounds Alarm as National Debt Surpasses $38 Trillion
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Washington, D.C. - As the U.S. national debt surpasses $38 trillion, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) issued the following statement to sound the alarm on what he calls "the United States' next great war":
" America is now $38,000,000,000,000-yes, $38 trillionin debt. To put it in perspective, that's twice the entire economic output of the European Union, more than twenty times Great Britain's annual budget, and a crushing
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, issued the following news release:
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Arrington Sounds Alarm as National Debt Surpasses $38 Trillion
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Washington, D.C. - As the U.S. national debt surpasses $38 trillion, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) issued the following statement to sound the alarm on what he calls "the United States' next great war":
" America is now $38,000,000,000,000-yes, $38 trillionin debt. To put it in perspective, that's twice the entire economic output of the European Union, more than twenty times Great Britain's annual budget, and a crushing$500,000 burden for every young American under 18.
"The national debt is the United States' next great war. If we lose it, we lose America's leadership in the world and our children's future.
"But, if we are able to muster the national courage to responsibly intervene, America will lead the 21st century. Reverse the Curse!" - Chairman Arrington.
Background:
America is on an unsustainable fiscal path. In 1982, the national debt hit the $1 trillion milestone. Twenty-six years later, in 2008, the $10 trillion mark was surpassed. Our last milestone, $30 trillion in debt, was reached in 2022. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the gross debt is projected to surpass $40 trillion in 2027, just five years after reaching the $30 trillion mark.
Reckless fiscal policy has contributed to this worsening trajectory. Federal outlays have increased nearly 60 percent since 2019. As deficits grow due to spending, increasing the existing debt, interest payments rise. Net interest spending has increased 158 percent since 2019 and now consumes nearly a fifth of all revenues.
This means that nearly one in five dollars that taxpayers send to Washington buys nothing of value.
This year, Republicans passed into law the largest reduction in mandatory spending in U.S. historyby two-fold. H.R. 1 implemented generational reforms to reduce cradle-to-grave reliance on the federal government and responsibly slowed the growth of spending in health care and welfare. But even with these historic reforms, more must be done to rein in Washington's spending addiction to prevent our nation from going over a fiscal cliff.
The House Budget Committee continues to push for further meaningful reforms that restore fiscal responsibility, rein in runaway spending, and grow the economy through pro-growth policies.
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Original text here: https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4184
Ansari, Huffman, Garcia Demand Transparency on White House Ballroom Construction During Shutdown
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Arizona, issued the following news release:
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Ansari, Huffman, Garcia Demand Transparency on White House Ballroom Construction During Shutdown
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WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) demanded answers from President Donald J. Trump regarding the reported construction of a new $250 million ballroom at the White House complex during the ongoing government shutdown.
The lawmakers warn that the project undertaken "without public disclosure or proper consultation" raises
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Arizona, issued the following news release:
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Ansari, Huffman, Garcia Demand Transparency on White House Ballroom Construction During Shutdown
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WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) demanded answers from President Donald J. Trump regarding the reported construction of a new $250 million ballroom at the White House complex during the ongoing government shutdown.
The lawmakers warn that the project undertaken "without public disclosure or proper consultation" raisesserious concerns about transparency, funding priorities, and the physical and ethical integrity of the White House.
"[...] Outside the gates, " they write, "millions of Americans are about to lose their health care, SNAP benefits that help put food on the table, and millions more will forego another paycheck because of the Republican refusal to end the shutdown."
"This project represents one of the most substantial alterations to the White House in modern history," they wrote. "The decisions were made in complete secrecy."
According to the letter, the National Capital Planning Commission, which has an important oversight role over such construction, is "closed during the federal government shutdown," while the Treasury Department "reportedly told employees not to share photos of the construction."
The lawmakers also cite President Trump's previous statement that the project "won't interfere with the current building," noting that "as we now know, this was a lie as much of the East Wing is demolished."
They further warn that the demolition of "an iconic symbol of a democracy run of, by, and for the people" is being "funded by major donations from billionaires and corporations," discussed during "an elaborate dinner at the White House, where donors feasted on tomato salad, Beef Wellington, and butterscotch ice cream with a pear jam-filled meringue," according to reporting by CBS News.
The letter requests, within two weeks, extensive documentation on the project, including communications with federal agencies, architectural plans, environmental and historic preservation reviews, contract awards, budgets, donor lists, and any legal authorities invoked to continue work during the lapse in appropriations.
"The American people deserve full transparency regarding the substantial demolition, preparation, and construction at the White House during a government shutdown, particularly when it concerns alterations to one of our nation's most historically significant buildings," the lawmakers wrote.
Read the full letter here.
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Original text here: https://ansari.house.gov/media/press-releases/ansari-huffman-garcia-demand-transparency-on-white-house-ballroom-construction-during-shutdown
Amid Shutdown, McClellan, Roem and Advocates Call on USDA to Use Contingency Fund to Pay for November SNAP Benefits for Nearly 800,000 Virginians
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
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Amid Shutdown, McClellan, Roem and Advocates Call on USDA to Use Contingency Fund to Pay for November SNAP Benefits for Nearly 800,000 Virginians
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Richmond, Va. In response to communication from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the agency does not have adequate funds to pay SNAP benefits for the full month of November due to the shutdown, U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Sen. Danica Roem (D-Prince William) on Wednesday joined advocates for a virtual press conference calling
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
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Amid Shutdown, McClellan, Roem and Advocates Call on USDA to Use Contingency Fund to Pay for November SNAP Benefits for Nearly 800,000 Virginians
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Richmond, Va. In response to communication from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the agency does not have adequate funds to pay SNAP benefits for the full month of November due to the shutdown, U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Sen. Danica Roem (D-Prince William) on Wednesday joined advocates for a virtual press conference callingon USDA to tap into its contingency fund. They also urged the Trump Administration to find additional funding to ensure that SNAP benefits for nearly 800,000 Virginians (link is external) are fully covered for the month.
The Virginia Department of Social Services received a memo from USDA on October 10 requesting that states hold their SNAP files and delay transmission to state SNAP vendors until further notice.
USDA has a contingency fund that could be tapped to cover nearly two-thirds of November's benefits nationally. The Administration can also use its discretionary authority to transfer funds to SNAP, as it did with WIC earlier this month, to cover any remaining gap. McClellan cosponsors Rep. Emilia Sykes 's (OH-13) H.R. 2016, the Feed Our Families Act, filed in March to ensure families supported by SNAP can continue to access their benefits up to three months after a shutdown occurs. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican leadership have prevented the bill from passing and refused to hold committee hearings or votes for over a month.
"Just within the last two weeks, President Trump announced a $20 billion bailout for his fellow ultra-right wing friend, Javier Milei, the president of Argentina," said Congresswoman McClellan. "So instead of coming to the table to negotiate on a budget that lowers the cost of living for Americans and addresses the looming Republican-caused health care crisis, President Trump is rewarding foreign politicians who say nice things about him to the tune of billions of dollars. Congressional Democrats want to fund the government, and we have repeatedly asked Speaker Mike Johnson for over a month to gavel us back into session so that we can continue working on behalf of the American people. And now SNAP benefits are set to stop, even as the USDA has access to a $6 million contingency fund that they could tap into to keep them going. If there is somehow money to bail out right wing politicians in Argentina during our government shutdown, it's clear we have the resources to ensure that American families don't go hungry on Thanksgiving."
"What am I supposed to tell my constituent right now who sent me that text message yesterday asking 'what's going to happen to the benefits in November'?" said Senator Roem. "What level of certainty do we have right now? November is coming up in 10 days. I don't have an answer right now because we don't know what the hell Congress is going to do. We don't know what the president is going to do right now. Our families need certainty. We hear all the time about 'Wall Street needs certainty in order to do blah, blah, blah.' Our families who are hungry need certainty. Our families with people who have disabilities need certainty. Our constituents need certainty. That's who we're here to serve."
"Historically, administrations have found ways to sustain SNAP during budget crises and shutdowns by using contingency funds, carryover appropriations and short-term adjustments," said Emily Moore of Voices for Virginia's Children. "That authority still exists. What's missing right now is the willpower to prioritize families who depend on SNAP to get the nutrition they need, and that is why our call to action is clear. This is not a state issue. USDA must provide clear and actionable guidance to states before November 1 on how to handle SNAP allocations for the month of November. They must use contingency funds to prevent a gap in benefits. And members of Congress must communicate directly with USDA and the Administration about the urgency of this issue and must work to identify funding solutions that ensure that there are no gaps in benefits in SNAP for November and beyond."
" No corner of Virginia is safe from interruptions in SNAP benefits," said Rodrigo Soto of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis. "In central Virginia, over 170,000 people relied on SNAP. For the eastern region, that number's over 225,000 people. In the northern region, over 212,000 people are SNAP recipients. In Virginia's Piedmont region, that is over 150,000 people enrolled in SNAP, and lastly, the western region has over 91,000 SNAP recipients. The impact will be real and devastating as families try to plan for the month of November... inaction is not an option as we approach this food crisis."
"Food-insecure families need certainty," said Eddie Oliver of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. "There's nothing more anxiety-inducing than not knowing where your next meal is coming from, and the impacts on mental health and physical health will be significant if families have to contend with not getting these benefits on time. We stand ready to help any way we can. We want folks to reach out to a local pantry if you are in need of assistance, but we are certainly not confident that we're going to be able to meet the demand that would occur if SNAP benefits do not go out on time next month, and so we stand with others who call for USDA to deploy these contingency funds, make sure families get the benefits they're entitled to, because food is not optional."
"Since June of this year, our pantry has added over 100 new families to the roll to be able to come and shop at our client choice pantry, and we also have a mobile distribution program that serves seniors and differently-abled folks," said A.J. Young, director of outreach for the LIFEworks Project, which runs River City Bread Basket in Waynesboro. "It's important to understand as well that we have served, or we continue to serve, regularly, over 500 folks a month, and that number continues to climb. It is going to be beyond challenging for folks who are coming to our pantry previously just to supplement what they get in terms of food, who will now be completely reliant upon our pantry for food. And we certainly hope that the USDA will release the $6 billion. That will certainly have an impact in a wonderful way, to be able to continue to provide the services that many of our clients have come to rely on in this season."
"I'm here to call on the federal government to do everything they can to make sure they are protecting SNAP this month for my family and for my four children," said Ariele Robinson of Richmond. "I recently started a new job at a nursing agency taking care of older folks, and it still just isn't enough to get by, even with SNAP. Every dollar is accounted for with all my bills my rent, my insurance, my phone bill. Whenever I get an extra $20 or $30, it goes to food. I go to Dollar General and try to get noodles, things for like $1.25 to stock up. I was late re-certifying my SNAP this summer, so I know what it's like to go without. I relied on food banks and on my church to feed my children. My church has an afterschool program that made sure my kids were fed. So if I did not get my benefits in November, I would go to my church, and I know they will help me, but I know there are also a lot of other families that they would have to help."
"My partner and I work doing deliveries for Walmart through a service called Spark. But it's not enough to make ends meet. We rely on SNAP and WIC a lot to feed ourselves, to feed our children," said Audrey Cunningham, a mother of three from Bandy in Tazewell County. "We're also going through a harder time right now because our van broke down. It's in the shop, and we can't do any deliveries right now. It's really upsetting that we might not be getting our benefits in November. We are currently looking into food pantries for help, and we're looking at cheaper options for food. We're stocking up on packs of Ramen noodles, soups and canned vegetables. Normally, we don't buy the cheaper foods like Ramen because they're not as healthy, but we're really just trying to stock up in case we don't get our SNAP benefits next month."
"I'm speaking today on behalf of my uncle, who is 65 years old," said Kisha Cain of Richmond. "I'm his caregiver, so I'm currently in the process of renewing his SNAP benefits, which come to $291 per month. For over 30 years, my uncle worked as a driver for different moving companies. Three years ago, he had a stroke that left him unable to work. He is in the process of applying for disability, but that can take a long time. So SNAP has been his only source of income, and at least it means he can have food. It's also helpful because he's a diabetic and has certain dietary needs that SNAP can help fill. It just really makes a difference that he has SNAP to make sure that he has enough food going month to month."
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Original text here: https://mcclellan.house.gov/media/press-releases/amid-shutdown-mcclellan-roem-and-advocates-call-usda-use-contingency-fund-pay
Alsobrooks, Wyden Continue to Build the Case Against RFK Jr.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Maryland, issued the following news release:
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Alsobrooks, Wyden Continue to Build the Case Against RFK Jr.
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After releasing a 54-page report chronicling every day of RFK Jr.'s costly, chaotic, and corrupt reign as Secretary, Senators Alsobrooks and Wyden continue to build their case for why RFK Jr. must resign or be fired.
October 23, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC - Despite the Republican shutdown, RFK Jr. continues to harm the American people. Senators Alsobrooks and Wyden will continue to release updated actions taken by RFK Jr. and add these
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Maryland, issued the following news release:
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Alsobrooks, Wyden Continue to Build the Case Against RFK Jr.
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After releasing a 54-page report chronicling every day of RFK Jr.'s costly, chaotic, and corrupt reign as Secretary, Senators Alsobrooks and Wyden continue to build their case for why RFK Jr. must resign or be fired.
October 23, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC - Despite the Republican shutdown, RFK Jr. continues to harm the American people. Senators Alsobrooks and Wyden will continue to release updated actions taken by RFK Jr. and add theseacts to their joint report.
Chaos, Corruption, and Costs Continues: Kennedy's Latest Failings
Below are Kennedy's latest harmful actions (from October 10- October 23, 2025):
1. The Trump health care shutdown drags on as Senate Republicans once again voted down legislation to reopen the federal government, permanently extend middle-class tax credits that make Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums affordable, repeal Republicans' largest health care cuts in history, and protect against reckless and unlawful funding cancellations. As open enrollment nears and even more Americans learn their families face catastrophic premium spikes next year, Kennedy stands idly by, allowing a health care affordability crisis to unfold nationwide. Republicans refuse to reopen the federal government and avert a health care crisis that will cause health care premiums to double, on average, and even triple or quadruple for working and middle-class Americans. Kennedy is entirely absent as this crisis unfolds, not unlike House Republicans who refuse to even show up for work.
2. Kennedy's anti-science crusade continues as his hand-picked conspiracy theorists and vaccine skeptics, who now make up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), announced they would form a workgroup to revisit the childhood vaccine schedule, threatening access to life-saving vaccines for children.
3. Spurred on by the White House and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Vought's cruel shutdown agenda, Kennedy continues his campaign to gut HHS by laying off approximately 1,760 employees, including civil servants that worked on Measles response and produce the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, nearly double the figure projected previously by administration officials. Blaming the initial oversight on "data discrepancies and processing errors" HHS has rescinded hundreds of erroneous layoffs, at the Centers for Disease Control - the latest example of Kennedy causing chaos at the agency.
4. As a part of the illegal shutdown firings, Kennedy fired staff that operate the Community Services Block Grant, a program that provides funds to states and local nonprofits to reduce poverty and revitalize low-income communities. Kennedy fired more than 100 people from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, gutting the agency responsible for addressing our nation's mental health care and substance use crises to half the size it was at the beginning of the year. Kennedy fired employees at the division of Healthy Start at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a program which prevents maternal deaths and reduces infant mortality. Kennedy laid off everyone that managed the Title X Family Planning Program and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, which together serve low-income and uninsured individuals, offering services like contraception, STI prevention, and family planning. Kennedy fired the HRSA staff tasked with operating the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for Children program which prevents pediatric deaths.
5. The shutdown has forced some hospitals to withdraw from the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative, which allows hospitals to remotely monitor thousands of seriously-ill but stable patients at home, freeing up hospital beds for other patients. Kennedy has already enabled massive cuts to hospitals through his support of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act - this is the latest way Kennedy's Department is exacerbating a health care crisis across the country.
6. The Food and Drug Administration published its latest personnel numbers, reflecting that in fiscal year 2025, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research lost 1,093 people and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research lost 224. Reporting found that these widespread staffing cuts and losses due to Kennedy's actions have led to a slowdown of the FDA's review of drugs and delayed review of applications. These cuts are taking a toll on health care jobs nationwide. Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, CA, is laying off 87 people ; Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, PA, is laying off 650 people ; and PacificSource Health Plans in Oregon is laying off 56 people.
7. As Kennedy destroys public trust in HHS, governors of fifteen states joined together to launch the Governors Public Health Alliance to share data and coordinate public health policy in the absence of federal leadership.
8. New analyses from the non-partisan, independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirm Trump and Kennedy handed an $8.8 billion bailout to Big Pharma in the Republican budget law on the world's top-selling cancer drugs-nearly double the original estimates. Republicans chose to delay or exempt life-saving cancer medications, like Keytruda and Opdivo, from Medicare drug price negotiations, meaning seniors will continue to pay more for sky-high drugs than they should.
9. Kennedy falsely claimed that he is leading the "biggest infusion of federal dollars into rural health care in American history." In reality, emergency rooms in rural Texas are closing, and a rural clinic in Lake County, California, has been forced to cancel its openingdirect consequences of Trumpcare's damage to rural health.
10. Trump's litany of false promises to lower prescription drug prices continues as the White House announced another so-called "deal" with AstraZeneca to bring U.S. drug prices in line with other countries. Absent any details whatsoever on the prescription drugs included or the savings secured, Kennedy called it, "this historical achievement... really monumental." Like Trump's so-called "deal" with Pfizer, the terms of this agreement with AstraZeneca are confidential, meaning there are no tangible savings or lower costs to announce. AstraZeneca stock was up following the announcement.
11. Trump and Kennedy trotted out another dog-and-pony show of empty promises at the White House, this time gaslighting families seeking IVF to have a child. This announcement falls far short of Trump's campaign promise that he would make IVF free for all Americans - IVF will continue to be out of reach financially for millions. Trump and Kennedy once again made an announcement purporting to help people without any specific details, new policies, or other guarantees. Meanwhile, Republicans' assault on women's health care continues as Kennedy undercuts decades of science on safe access to Mifepristone, closes Planned Parenthood clinics and threatens labor & delivery units nationwide, denies pregnant women life-saving emergency care, and more.
12. Senate Majority Leader Thune characterized Kennedy's advice on Tylenol as untrustworthy, encouraging women to speak to their doctors about their health-not Kennedy. Senator Thune joins the Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, World Health Organization, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, among others in refuting Kennedy's unsubstantiated claims.
13. Measles cases continue to surge amid Kennedy's anti-vaccine crusade. The measles outbreaks sweeping the southwest are clustered in communities with vaccination rates below the 95% required to maintain herd immunity. Earlier this year, the number of measles cases in the country hit a 34-year high and two children died, the first measles deaths in the country in a decade.
14. Kennedy incited panic among health care providers nationwide with guidance suggesting doctors would not receive any payments from Medicare. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) later reversed course, clarifying that claims will only be held for services affected by the government shutdown. Nevertheless, confusion abounds about how Kennedy will guarantee payment to doctors for essential services seniors rely on, like telehealth, as the Trump health care shutdown drags on.
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Original text here: https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/press-releases/alsobrooks-wyden-continue-to-build-the-case-against-rfk-jr-4
