STAFFORD, Va. (DC News Now) – Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Va.) declared a State of Emergency in response to the ongoing federal government shutdown Thursday.
The Governor sounded the alarm as he said SNAP food assistance benefits for 850,000 people across the Commonwealth could run out on November 1.
Youngkin says the Commonwealth will provide food benefits, and by declaring a state of emergency, he can “expend emergency funds for the health, welfare, and safety of Virginians.”
In his declaration announcement, the republican governor also said he refuses to “let hungry Virginians be used as ‘leverage’ by Congressional Democrats.”
He called on Virginia’s democratic Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to vote to pass the continuing resolution and take steps to reopen the federal government, “end this nonsense,” as he described it.
Both senators responded to questions about the emergency declaration on Thursday.
“Any efforts that can be taken at the state level to help make sure those who are food-insecure don’t suffer, I support,” said Kaine.
“What’s it gonna take? I think it’s not additional pain. Frankly, it’s the state’s responsibility to help fund the SNAP program. I know they’re gonna get stretched. So, I’d urge the Governor to tell the President to stay in town, put America first, and resolve this,” said Warner.
The Senators are also provided DC News Now with a joint statement in response to the Governor that reads:
“Republicans still control the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. They have, quite literally, the power to stop this. They also had the power to defend nutrition benefits earlier this year, but chose to sell out working families as part of the Big Ugly Law in order to offset the cost of tax breaks for billionaires.”
