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A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Department of Agriculture should use its contingency funds and interchange authority to finance the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

USA119th CongressSRES-481| Senate 
| Updated: 11/3/2025
Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Cosponsors (45)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Angela D. Alsobrooks (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Andy Kim (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This Senate resolution declares that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) should utilize its available contingency funds and interchange authority to finance the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It emphasizes that the current administration is both legally obligated and possesses the necessary funds and authority to ensure the continuation of SNAP benefits, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and veterans. The resolution highlights that Congress has appropriated over $4.5 billion into a SNAP contingency fund, specifically designed to maintain program operations during emergencies like government shutdowns. It points out that the USDA has previously issued guidance confirming the availability of these funds for such purposes. Furthermore, the resolution notes the Secretary of Agriculture's discretion to transfer funds via interchange authority, which was recently exercised for the WIC program, underscoring the administration's capacity to act immediately and fund SNAP in November 2025.
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Timeline
Nov 3, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Nov 3, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Nov 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HRES 119-856
Submitted in House
  • November 3, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • November 3, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


  • November 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HRES 119-856
    Submitted in House

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • HRES 119-856: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Department of Agriculture should use its contingency funds and interchange authority to finance the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Department of Agriculture should use its contingency funds and interchange authority to finance the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

USA119th CongressSRES-481| Senate 
| Updated: 11/3/2025
This Senate resolution declares that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) should utilize its available contingency funds and interchange authority to finance the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It emphasizes that the current administration is both legally obligated and possesses the necessary funds and authority to ensure the continuation of SNAP benefits, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and veterans. The resolution highlights that Congress has appropriated over $4.5 billion into a SNAP contingency fund, specifically designed to maintain program operations during emergencies like government shutdowns. It points out that the USDA has previously issued guidance confirming the availability of these funds for such purposes. Furthermore, the resolution notes the Secretary of Agriculture's discretion to transfer funds via interchange authority, which was recently exercised for the WIC program, underscoring the administration's capacity to act immediately and fund SNAP in November 2025.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Nov 3, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Nov 3, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Nov 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HRES 119-856
Submitted in House
  • November 3, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • November 3, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


  • November 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HRES 119-856
    Submitted in House
Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Cosponsors (45)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Angela D. Alsobrooks (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Andy Kim (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • HRES 119-856: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Department of Agriculture should use its contingency funds and interchange authority to finance the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted