New Mexico Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury has had enough. During the government shutdown, she has spoken up repeatedly about Americans going without food due to SNAP delays in November. Funds aren’t currently being released anytime soon and, the truth is, Americans are going to starve because of it. So, Melanie wasn’t about to hold her tongue on the matter when she had a chance to speak at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
As Representative Melanie Stansbury (@repstansbury) said in her TikTok video, “Republicans did not show up for work again today.” She worked to introduce the SNAP BACK Act, which would provide continuous SNAP benefit funding during the shutdown. As Melanie says, “Trump has the funds to ensure 42 million Americans don’t lose access to SNAP benefits on Saturday. But, they are CHOOSING to let Americans starve.” Now on week five of the government shutdown, people are panicking and they have every right to do so. So many people don’t know when they’ll next get to shop for groceries that will feed their families and food banks are already overwhelmed.
Melanie’s next words are a scary reality: “Republican leadership doesn’t have any plan whatsoever to bring the House back into session.” She also adds that the “President is overseas” and “they’re not negotiating.” From here, she said that there is “no attempt to reopen the government” so who knows how long it will be to see results. Melanie ripped into Trump: “We are four days away from 42 million Americans losing food assistance, as literally the White House is building a $300 million ballroom.” She explained in an interview with Jake Tapper, “Donald Trump is President. He is literally overseas. He is not trying to reopen the government.” She adds, “He is not trying to feed the American people. He is not trying to deal with the health care crisis. And he literally was being led around a ballroom by the Japanese Prime Minister last night.”
As of right now, everything is at a standstill. What this means is that feeding our people is at a standstill. 42 million Americans, including children, will start going without food this weekend if nothing is done and it looks like nothing will be done. Representatives like Melanie Stansbury know that this is horrendously wrong and something needs to be done. Hopefully, the introduction of her Act “requiring that the federal government release SNAP and WIC funds” will make a difference. Melanie goes on to say, “There is already a contingency fund that is sitting there for this purpose.” This means that our government is “choosing” to let people go without benefits.
One commenter replied on Melanie’s video, “I love that the Democrats are the only ones who are still trying to show up. It shows who truly cares about the people.” Another pointed out, “It’s sad we have to fight so hard for basic human needs. Thank you for being there to fight against this mess!”
