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Dear Fellow Vermonter,
We are now one month into the government shutdown. This shutdown is taking place for one simple reason: For the first time in the modern history of our country, the majority party in the Senate — which needs 60 votes to pass a budget bill to fund the government — is refusing to negotiate.
The Republican majority has 53 votes. The Democratic caucus has 47 votes. There must be negotiations. It cannot simply be their way or the highway. Some people are saying we should pass a so-called “clean CR,” or Continuing Resolution, to reopen the government. Well, let me be clear what it would mean if this so-called clean CR were to pass.
It would throw 15 million Americans off the health care they have because of massive cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, including 45,000 of our friends and neighbors in Vermont. It would double premiums, on average, for 20 million Americans. That is something we literally cannot afford — especially at a time when tens of thousands of Vermonters are paying half of their income on housing.
And now, in an absolutely unbelievable way, Trump is refusing to release the more than $5 billion emergency fund for the federal food stamp program — known federally as SNAP and locally as 3SquaresVT — that helps feed 16 million kids around the country, including 38,000 Vermont households. Congress created this emergency fund specifically for times like these. The president’s refusal to release these funds is in direct violation of the law.
Let there be no mistake: The president is legally obligated to use this emergency fund. And up until last week, his administration was preparing to do just that. In the richest country in the history of the world, we cannot let 16 million kids and their parents and grandparents go hungry.
The good news is that 25 states, including Vermont, and the District of Columbia are suing President Trump to demand that he release the emergency SNAP funds as required by law. I stand with Vermont Attorney General Clark in this effort and hope that the courts will rule in favor of these states. Additionally, there are now 62 senators — including 15 Republicans — supporting legislation that would extend SNAP benefits during the shutdown.
It is also good news that Vermont took important steps on Wednesday to ensure Vermonters who rely on SNAP will have money added to their EBT cards to make up the gap in federal funding. These funds will cover the first two weeks of November, and the state will consider further funding if the federal government does not reopen soon. The legislature and governor also directed $250,000 to the Vermont Foodbank to make sure hungry Vermonters could access food at food shelves across our state. If Vermonters have questions about their SNAP benefits, they can call Vermont 2-1-1 or the Department of Children and Families at 800-479-6151.
In addition to these important steps our state took on Wednesday to protect Vermonters who rely on SNAP, they also made the decision to release funds for home heating through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This will ensure that Vermonters who rely on LIHEAP to keep their homes warm can access these important funds in time to purchase fuel and prepare for winter. It is important to apply for this fuel assistance as soon as possible to ensure you are able to receive the aid you need. To apply, contact the Vermont Department of Children and Families’ Economic Services Division Office online at https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/fuel or by calling 800-479-6151. Older Vermonters can also call the Senior Helpline for assistance at 800-642-5119.
But the reality is, the state of Vermont should not have needed to take these steps. We should not have needed to put $6.3 million in state funds into programs that were created, designed and funded by the federal government to help the most vulnerable among us meet their basic needs. In Vermont, we are lucky that — at least for the next two weeks — our children won’t go hungry and our elderly neighbors won’t freeze. President Trump must obey the law and release these funds.
We must protect the health care of 15 million people. We must not allow 50,000 people to die each year because they can’t afford to go to the doctor. We must fight so children don’t go hungry. And we must fight to ensure our older relatives don’t freeze. We must sit down and negotiate a path to reopening the federal government. And we must hold the Trump administration accountable when it breaks the law — creating crisis after crisis that puts the most vulnerable among us in grave danger.
Sincerely,
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