HARRISBURG, PA − October 31, 2025 − Today, Senate Democrats express gratitude to Governor Shapiro for his decision to sign a Declaration of Disaster Emergency and sending $5 million in Commonwealth Funding to Pennsylvania’s network of foodbanks.
Additionally, earlier this week, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania joined a multi-state lawsuit to demand that the US Department of Agriculture use available, Congressionally-appropriated contingency funding to pay SNAP benefits for November. Today, the United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, issued an order requiring the United States Department of Agriculture to utilize the Contingency Funds to fund the SNAP program. The Order also states that Defendants are permitted to authorize a transfer of additional funds in order to supplement the Contingency Funds to avoid any reductions to benefits.
Nearly one in eight Pennsylvanians benefits from SNAP, and the Trump administration’s decision to withhold nearly $366 million in monthly payments places an extraordinary strain on Pennsylvania’s food banks and charitable food systems.
“As the Trump Administration engages in another exercise in cruelty by attempting to withhold SNAP dollars, Governor Shapiro has stepped up to ensure that our friends and neighbors have food on the table,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “My colleagues and I have been receiving a deluge of calls from concerned constituents, fearful that they will not be able to stock their pantries and refrigerators because of the heartless decision of the President and his enablers in the Federal government. We are deeply grateful for the leadership of our Governor to fight for the food and safety of every Pennsylvanian.”
“This is an emergency,” said Senator Art Haywood, the Democratic Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee in the State Senate. “Thank you to Governor Shapiro for stepping up in this disaster. Once again, judges have protected the people of Pennsylvania from this man-made disaster.”
On Tuesday, Senate Democrats announced legislation that would further support Pennsylvania’s food banks with interest accrued from the Rainy Day Fund, introduced as Senate Bill 1080.
Learn more about the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats commitment to every Pennsylvanian here.
######
HARRISBURG, PA − October 28, 2025 − Today, Senate Democrats held a press event to introduce the Pennsylvania Food Bank and Hunger Relief Grant Program, legislation that will allocate $50 million from the Rainy Day Fund for the Department of Agriculture to send to food banks, an additional $10 million for Meals on Wheels, and another $2 million to cover administrative costs. This program will support 18 food banks and is essential to addressing food insecurity and hunger issues resulting from the Republican’s Federal Government shutdown.
Twenty two members of the Senate Democratic Caucus signed on as co-sponsors to the Pennsylvania Food Bank and Hunger Relief Grant Program, introduced as Senate Bill 1080.
Nearly one in eight Pennsylvanians benefits from SNAP, and the Trump administration’s decision to withhold nearly $366 million in monthly payments places an extraordinary strain on Pennsylvania’s food banks and charitable food systems.
Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus expressed that while the Commonwealth does not have the capacity to replace the roughly $366 million in monthly SNAP benefits Pennsylvanians receive from the federal government, the legislature does have the resources to assist food banks to ensure their shelves remain stocked to respond to increased demand when SNAP benefits cease on November 1, 2025.
“This is an emergency,” said Senator Art Haywood, the Democratic Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee in the State Senate. “SNAP food benefits end Saturday, November 1, should the federal shutdown still be in place. This will crush families and neighbors across Pennsylvania, and these changes will leave people hungry. It’s hard to be in a more outrageous position than to be holding up the food for our neighbors. Denying people food is a violation of their dignity.”
“Food banks are remarkably resilient and efficient. However, we are facing a perfect storm of resource constraints, from unpaid federal workers turning to the charitable food system to essential funding for critical anti-hunger programs being held up in the state budget impasse,” said Julie Bancroft, CEO of Feeding PA. “Now, a potential wave of two million people who won’t be able to access their SNAP benefits will need to rely on food banks. Food banks need relief to be able to serve neighbors as best as possible in this crisis.”
“With the loss of SNAP in November, we are now facing an acute hunger crisis on top of the existing one,” said Shila Ulrich, CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “We’ve seen a 44% increase in hunger in the last two years, while the cost of food, fuel, and distribution remains high. Every week, we meet more working families – people with jobs – who are choosing between groceries, rent, and medicine. It’s a sustained structural crisis that requires policy stability and bipartisan leadership. Food banks are strong —we’ve been strong and resilient —but we cannot fill the gaps left by prolonged inaction. ”
“If this isn’t a crisis, I don’t know what is,” said Senator Judy Schwank. “To use hunger as a political weapon is unconscionable. One of SNAP’s greatest strengths is that it connects people with fresh, healthy, local food. Farmers benefit from steady sales, and families get nutritious food that helps build bodies and support good lives. Everybody wins. But that won’t happen in November, and the destruction won’t only be felt in Pennsylvania. It will ripple across the entire country.”
“I want to encourage everyone to donate and volunteer at their local food bank. But make no mistake, charitable food pantries cannot fill the demands or the infrastructure that the SNAP program is leaving behind,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “The feds are counting on our sense of decency not to let people starve while they build a giant golden ballroom at the White House.”
Earlier today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania joined a multi-state lawsuit to demand that the US Department of Agriculture use available, Congressionally-appropriated contingency funding to pay SNAP benefits for November.
You can rewatch today’s press conference here. Downloadable footage is available upon request.
Learn more about the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats commitment to every Pennsylvanian here.
######
