Capitol News

Senator Roger Victory has introduced a resolution in the Michigan Senate urging U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin to support efforts to end the ongoing federal government shutdown.

“We have been told that critical SNAP food assistance benefits will be paused on Saturday if the federal government is still shut down — and there are 1.4 million Michiganders who now face uncertainty about their ability to put food on the table,” said Victory, R-Hudsonville. “My resolution does not place blame, and it does not attack anyone. It only asks that our members who represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate vote in support of a continuing resolution to fund the government.”

The measure, known as Senate Resolution 85, calls for Michigan’s U.S. senators to vote for H.R. 5371, which would reopen the federal government and restore funding for key programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371 as a temporary funding measure while lawmakers continue budget negotiations.

“Food is the foundation of our health, and the failure to fund our federal government puts another barrier before our constituents all across the state,” Victory said. “The SNAP program is near and dear to me because I believe in the importance of food accessibility and the work we have done to invest in Double Up Food Bucks so we can incentivize healthy meals for individuals on the SNAP program and make those precious few dollars go further for struggling families.

“But the issue doesn’t end with SNAP. This is just one of many programs facing the same problem due to the federal government shutdown.”

Victory’s resolution also notes that hundreds of thousands of federal employees are missing paychecks or working without pay due to furloughs caused by the shutdown, with continued closure expected to worsen effects on people both in Michigan and across the country.