Ciscomani, Republicans Refuse to Negotiate As Millions of Americans Face Hunger

TUCSON — Congressman Juan Ciscomani and congressional Republicans are forcing Americans who rely on SNAP food assistance to face hunger and rely on understocked food banks to feed their families to keep the longest shutdown in U.S. history going.

Congressman Ciscomani and his Republican colleagues are refusing to permanently extend  expiring health care tax credits, and as a result, Arizonans are facing skyhigh insurance premiums for 2026 and nearly 900,000 Arizonans are waiting to find out if and when they'll receive their SNAP benefits for November.

According to NBC News:

“...disruptions to SNAP, also known as food stamps, during what has become the longest government shutdown in American history have left recipients facing imminent hunger, unable to restock their pantries or refrigerators.

Although the Trump administration said partial funds would be distributed this month — a response to a lawsuit challenging its plan to suspend SNAP payments during the shutdown — recipients who were due to receive their benefits this week have empty balances.

On Thursday, the federal judge in that lawsuit ordered the Trump administration to distribute SNAP funding in full to states by Friday, though it remains to be seen whether recipients’ electronic benefits cards will be refilled that quickly. Previously, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins had said it could take several weeks to deliver the benefits.

Already, the delay has forced millions of families to get by on small collections from food banks or the generosity of loved ones. Many face the prospect of falling short on bills so they can eat, or, like Haley, are forgoing meals altogether.”

"We're seven days into November and 38 days into this shutdown, but Congressman Ciscomani is refusing to do the right thing — instead letting his constituents go hungry and face higher costs everywhere they look," said Andrea Moreno, Executive Director of Honest Arizona. "Congressman Ciscomani: get to the negotiating table to reopen the government, make the health care tax credits permanent and guarantee that Arizonans who rely on SNAP get their full benefits now!"

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