Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability at The Campaign Against Hunger’s Bed-Stuy location with CEO Dr. Melony Samuels and constituents to highlight the pain being inflicted on everyday Americans as a result of the Trump SNAP Crisis. 

“Here in this great country, America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, not a single person should ever go hungry. Not one. And yet, here we are on November 1 with the Trump administration having been ordered by two different federal courts to make sure that SNAP benefits were not discontinued, but they are unlawfully withholding this nutritional assistance from 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors and over a million veterans. There are approximately 3 million people in New York State who are now going to struggle to put food on the table because of the unlawful decision by the Trump administration to withhold SNAP benefits. And where is Donald Trump right now? He’s on the golf course at his luxury resort in Florida. This is not leadership. It’s cruelty in action,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). “Our commitment is to make sure that we get full restoration of the SNAP benefits urgently and as soon as possible. It should be done immediately, consistent with the law. And our commitment will continue to be to make sure that that happens because hunger is not a personal choice. It’s a result of challenges, hardship and inequality in a society that should never exist.” 

“Today, as millions, and I say millions, of New Yorkers face our reality of losing access to SNAP benefits, we are reminded that hunger is not an abstract issue. It lives right here in our neighborhood, right here in Bed-Stuy, in Brooklyn, in our schools, in our home, with our hardworking families simply trying to make ends meet. Our community is under siege, as fear, anxiety and depression has taken a hold and with families that are struggling to put food on their table,” said Dr. Melony Samuels, CEO, The Campaign Against Hunger.” At TCAH, we serve over 14,000 families every week, but since Thursday until now, we have seen a 40% increase in families that need food because of this shutdown, because of what’s going on. If this continues, we expect that we don’t know what we’ll do because SNAP is our first line of defense when it comes to feeding families. We cannot replace SNAP. But in the meantime, we have to do the best that we can to make sure that no one is turned away.”

“I’ve been working two full-time jobs with three kids, single mom. And since 2017, eventually, I got sick and I could not work, and I applied for extra help. I can’t get it because I’m making too much money. Extra food stamps, I can’t get it because I’m getting too much income,” said Blossom Robinson, NY-08 Constituent. “Someone had told me about The Campaign Against Hunger over here, and I came over here and I registered, and this place saved my life and saved my children’s life.”

Full press availability can be watched here.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

FRESNO, Calif. – Representative Jim Costa (CA-21), member of the House Agriculture Committee, partnered with Central California Food Bank to unite local Valley leaders and community organizations to sound the alarm on the devastating impacts of the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to withhold November SNAP funding during the ongoing government shutdown – despite having the authority to use $5 billion from the contingency fund. 

This decision would impact 42 million Americans nationwide. With nearly 30% of households in Congressman Costa’s district relying on SNAP, this decision threatens to leave hardworking Valley families without critical food assistance next month. As a result, veterans, seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities could be left without support to meet their most basic needs. In CA-21 households, 60 percent include a child, 34 percent include an elderly person, and 46 percent include someone living with a disability. 
During the press conference, it was announced that Judge John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island ordered today that the Trump Administration “must distribute the contingency money timely, or as soon as possible, for the Nov. 1 payments to be made. The order came as another federal judge, Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, ruled that the Trump Administration must use emergency funds to partially pay for SNAP benefits during the government shutdown and gave the administration until Monday, November 3, 2025, to report back how it will provide at least partial benefits for November.  
In addition to this press conference, Congressman Costa has sponsored legislative efforts to help provide SNAP benefits for the month of November:  

Sent a letter to Secretary Brooke Rollins, along with 214 Democratic colleagues, urging the Administration to release the funds needed to sustain SNAP benefits for November.
Co-Sponsored the Feed Our Families Act, which would appropriate three months of funding into the SNAP reserve fund to ensure families aren’t left behind during this difficult time. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor released the following statement:

With health insurance premiums surging and Republican Speaker Mike Johnson keeping the House on a paid vacation for six weeks, I urge the President and colleagues to return to work now to hammer out a bipartisan agreement.  I also call on the President to release SNAP resources to states from the USDA SNAP contingency fund that a federal judge ruled today was unlawfully withheld. The SNAP contingency fund currently contains $5B that can be sent to states to ensure that children, seniors and families receive food assistance. 

On his way to his Mar-a-Lago resort today, the President seemed to relish withholding food aid.  While this is consistent with the massive cuts to food assistance passed last summer in the Big Ugly bill ($186B) to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy, it stands out as one of the more callous and cruel actions of his presidency. Over 3 million Florida children, seniors and families rely on SNAP, and many are also bracing for huge health care cost increases.

• Health insurance premiums are rising by 114 percent because of the Republican health care crisis. Public servants have been working without pay for nearly a month. But House Republicans have been on a paid vacation since mid-September.

• The American people want to see the government reopened, critical lifelines like SNAP protected, and real action to end the health care crisis and lower the cost of health care for hardworking people. Republicans must get back to Washington so we can sit down and negotiate a bipartisan agreement

Instead of extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax savings that help millions — including 4.7 million Floridians — afford care, extreme MAGA Republicans are letting them expire without a second thought. It’s not a trick — it’s a downright wicked move that will haunt family budgets, spike premiums and put lifesaving health care out of reach.

No family should face the terrifying choice between a doctor’s visit and a stocked pantry. Yet Republicans are leaving families trapped in a financial purgatory — all while handing out treats to billionaires and corporate special interests.

Democrats are fighting to lower costs, protect families’ health and security and ensure no one goes hungry or loses their coverage. This Halloween, the scariest thing wandering the halls of Congress isn’t a ghost or a ghoul — it’s Republicans choosing tricks, cruelty and chaos over compassion, common sense and the well-being of America’s families. Floridians deserve better than this horror show.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WORCESTER, MA—Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee Jim McGovern (D-MA) released the following statement in response to rulings from U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts and U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island ordering the Trump administration to follow the law and send out food assistance to families in need:

“In a pair of rulings today, the courts confirmed what we already knew: The Trump administration has the legal authority, moral obligation, and financial ability to make sure food assistance goes out next month. I couldn’t tell you why Donald Trump and USDA Secretary Rollins wanted so badly to withhold help from seniors, kids, and veterans just before the holidays—it’s a nasty, rotten thing to do. I guess they thought they could create political leverage by inflicting pain on people. Clearly, they don’t care about the rising cost of groceries or the impact the tariffs are having on everyday people at the supermarket. But now, the courts have now told them to stop playing games and get these benefits out.

“I’m grateful to Attorney General Andrea Campbell and the people of Massachusetts for leading 26 states in suing this administration and serving as a check on Trump’s lawless and cruel disregard for the 42 million Americans—many who voted for him—who desperately need to know if they will have enough money to put food on the table next month.

“Secretary Rollins already knew this day would come—because 214 Democrats wrote to her just last week, and we made explicitly clear that she had the discretion and responsibility to make sure that people don’t go hungry. She ignored our letter. But we will not let her ignore the law.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) has appointed longtime Hawai‘i federal, state and non-profit executive Kekoa Kaluhiwa as his Deputy Chief of Staff and Hawai‘i District Director working out of Case’s Honolulu district office.

“In his twenty years of service across our federal, state and non-profit sectors and more, Kekoa has excelled at policy advocacy, community engagement and government relations,” said Case. “He is especially skilled at moving easily among diverse communities, leading teams, building partnerships, and navigating complex cultural, political and environmental issues.” 

“Especially important are his over ten years of Congressional experience with United States Senator Daniel Akaka. Representing Hawai‘i in Congress requires knowing and working smoothly and interchangeably in two very different worlds, and Kekoa especially brings this ability to my Congressional work.”

Kaluhiwa joins Case from eight years with Kamehameha Schools, most recently as Director of  ʻĀina Stakeholder Engagement, responsible for advancing the institution’s relationships with the community, government, and business sectors. He also directed Kamehameha’s statewide land operations. 

Kaluhiwa earlier served as First Deputy Director for the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DNLR) during the tenure of Case’s sister, Suzanne Case, as Director. His responsibilities included assisting in management of DLNR’s ten divisions, 900 employees and 1.2 million acres of public trust resources.

Kaluhiwa is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama and the University of Washington (B.A., Political Science). He also earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa.

Kaluhiwa succeeds Jacqueline (Jackie) Conant, who retired after twenty-five years of federal service. Conant worked for Case the entirety of his service in Congress, from 2002 to 2007 and from 2019 to her retirement. She began in Congress with U.S. Representative Patsy Mink and also served with then-U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono.

“Jackie exemplified the work of Congressional staff everywhere; they contribute immeasurably without widespread recognition to the critical work of Members of Congress on forging national policy, assisting our states and helping our constituents,” said Case. “Jackie also exemplified the unique role of a District Director to keep the critical district office functioning smoothly and to provide the face and voice of the office during the majority of the year when we are not home. While I miss her, I’m happy for her next chapters, and know that Kekoa will provide the same level of service to my office and our community with his own twist.”

Tim Nelson continues as Case’s Chief of Staff, based in Case’s Capitol Hill office. Like Conant, Nelson has served with Case throughout the entirety of Case’s service in Congress, including as Chief of Staff since 2019. Nelson has a particular expertise in defense, especially Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific, and in addition to managing Case’s overall office assists him in his responsibilities as a member of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Defense with oversight and funding jurisdiction over our defense and intelligence budgets. 

Attachment: Picture of Kekoa Kaluhiwa

###

 

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

The event took place on the eve of Open Enrollment, as new data shows premiums are set to soar to one of the largest increases since the ACA was enacted more than a decade ago. Without Republican action to extend the enhanced subsidies, which expire at the end of the year, working families face devastating premium hikes and possible loss of coverage. 

“Donald Trump and Republicans need to stop holding families hostage and reopen the government now,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “Tomorrow, open enrollment begins, and millions of working families will see their insurance premiums spike because Republicans refuse to extend the ACA tax credits that make coverage affordable. This is about dignity. It’s about decency. It’s about whether we believe in a country that looks out for working people, or just works for the billionaires. We’re calling on Republicans to reopen the government, extend lifesaving ACA subsidies, and fund SNAP.” 

Rep. Gomez was joined by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles), John Raffoul, President of Adventist Health White Memorial; Lucy Sanchez, a cancer survivor and patient advocate at the Cecilia De La Hoya Cancer Center; and local clinicians and ACA subsidy recipients who shared their experiences navigating care amid the shutdown.

“At Adventist Health White Memorial, our mission has always been to inspire health, wholeness, and hope, and today, that mission is at risk,” said John Raffoul, DPA, FACHE, President of Adventist Health White Memorial. “Thousands of families in East and Central Los Angeles depend on Affordable Care Act subsidies to afford their health insurance. Without congressional action, those subsidies could expire, leaving many of our patients facing skyrocketing premiums and impossible choices between healthcare and basic necessities like rent or food. We see firsthand what happens when people lose coverage — they delay care, end up in emergency rooms, and face worse health outcomes. This isn’t just a healthcare issue — it’s a community issue.”

Nationwide, roughly 24 million Americans are enrolled in ACA plans, a record high, but analysts warn that millions stand to lose coverage or face crippling premium hikes if Congress fails to act. In California’s 34th District, home to one of the largest populations of working-class and immigrant families in Los Angeles, the impact could be particularly severe.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore applauds President Donald Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to the alarming and ongoing persecution of Christians across the country. President Trump also asked Congressman Moore, alongside House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, to lead an investigation into the slaughtering of Christians in Nigeria.

Earlier this month, Congressman Moore sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the Trump Administration to take “immediate action to address the systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians in Nigeria,” highlighting the nation’s growing reputation as “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.”

More than 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in 2025 alone—an average of 35 per day—with hundreds more kidnapped, tortured, or displaced by extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa, and the Fulani militants. Reports indicate that between 50,000 and 100,000 Christians have been killed and more than 19,000 Christian churches have been attacked or destroyed since 2009. Data from Open Doors indicate that more Christians are killed every year in Nigeria than the rest of the world combined. 

President Trump previously designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern in 2020, but President Biden removed the designation in 2021.

Congressman Moore issued the following statement:

“I want to sincerely thank President Trump for his incredible leadership and decisive action to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. Nigeria has become ground zero for Christian martyrdom and I am proud to have been leading the effort in Congress to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being slaughtered since I was first sworn into Congress. Nigeria is, by far, the deadliest country in the world to be a Christian.

I have been calling for this designation since my first floor speech in April, where I highlighted the plight of Christians in Muslim majority countries. I then introduced H.Res. 594 in July to further draw attention to these atrocities against our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

More than 7,000 Christians have been martyred this year alone—an average of 35 every day. This designation is a critical first step in holding the Nigerian government accountable for engaging in and tolerating particularly severe violations of religious freedom, including doing nothing to stop mass killings targeting Christians and upholding its blasphemy laws that disproportionately target Christians.

I am grateful that the President has asked Chairman Tom Cole and me to work through the Appropriations Committee to ensure that Nigeria receives the international attention, pressure, and accountability it urgently needs.

This CPC designation sends a clear message: the United States will not turn a blind eye as Christians are slaughtered, and we stand ready to protect our brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide.”

For more on this issue, see Congressman Moore’s previous work on Nigeria:

·   The Congressman’s first ever floor speech, in which he highlighted the plight of Nigerian Christians;

·   The Congressman’s letter calling for Secretary Marco Rubio to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern;

·   The Congressman’s interview with Laura Ingraham;

·   The Congressman’s interview with Maria Bartiromo;

·   The Congressman’s interview on Fox and Friends;

·   The Congressman’s interview with Stuart Varney;

·   The Congressman’s interview with Kayleigh McEnany;

·   The Congressman’s interview on RSBN;

·   The Congressman’s interview on Varney & Co;

·   The Congressman’s interview with Raymond Arroyo;

·   The Congressman’s interview with Mario Nawfal;

·   The Congressman’s interview on the LOOPcast;

·   The Congressman’s interview with Catholic Frequency;

·   The Congressman’s interview on TimCast

·   The Congressman’s tweet highlighting the killing of a Nigerian pastor and kidnapping of 20 Nigerian Christians

·   The Congressman’s tweet highlighting the Nigerian Army accusing a pastor of stoking division for warning of an impending attack that left a dozen Christians dead;

·   The Congressman’s twitter thread highlighting the state of persecution in Nigeria and announcing his letter calling for Nigeria to be designated as a Country of Particular Concern;

· The Congressman’s tweet highlighting the massacre of Nigerian Christians on Palm Sunday;

·The Congressman’s speech at CPAC’s Ending Christian Persecution Summit.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:

Donald Trump and his administration are deliberately breaking the law in order to keep food out of the mouths of 42 million Americans. Republicans are willing to starve children, seniors and veterans to pressure Congress into gutting the healthcare of the American people. Cruelty is the point for these extremists. 

I am grateful for the swift and decisive work of Democratic State Attorneys General, Governors and our partners in the legal community. Donald Trump and his Republican sycophants are now being held accountable for their depraved dereliction of duty. Earlier this year, Republicans enacted the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history in their One Big Ugly Bill and are now using this illegal shutdown stunt to rip SNAP benefits from people who are legally entitled to them at the start of the month. 

The Trump administration needs to follow the law and fix this problem immediately by working closely with states to get nutritional assistance to the millions who rely on it as soon as possible. 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott DesJarlais (4th District of Tennessee)

(WASHINGTON, DC) –Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) authored a letter to United States Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressing concern over illegal migrants potentially using SNAP benefits. 

Rep. DesJarlais expressed his gratitude for the work President Trump, Secretary Rollins, and Secretary Noem have done so far to ensure those who are in the U.S. illegally are unable to take advantage of social programs. He highlighted his concern that progressive state leaders across the country may still be gaming the system due to a lack of reporting requirements. 

“I write to you today to express my concern that the United States Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is continuing to be utilized by illegal aliens, despite multiple Trump Administration directives, when we have American citizens who are in need. I strongly believe that without strict reporting requirements from states that manage their individual SNAP programs, corruption will occur from progressive governors and state leaders,” said DesJarlais in his letter. 

The Tennessee Congressman placed blame on former President Biden’s failed open border policies for the reason the current SNAP system is being utilized by illegal migrants.

He says in the letter, “President Biden stopped the enforcement of former President Trump’s Public Charge Rule in March of 2021, which denied migrants’ entrance into the U.S. if they possessed the potential to need government welfare assistance. This enticed even more migrants to flood our southern border. We are also aware that under the direction of Biden, many migrants were granted asylum or asylum-seeking status without proper investigation or adjudication into these claims.” 

Rep. DesJarlais requested answers to the following questions: 

Questions for the United States Department of Agriculture: 

• How many Americans are currently enrolled in SNAP benefits?
• How many non-American citizens are currently enrolled in SNAP benefits?
• a) How many non-American citizens enrolled in SNAP benefits are minors? 
• b) How many non-American citizens enrolled in SNAP benefits are claiming asylum-seeking status? 
• c) How many non-American citizens began immediately receiving SNAP benefits based on the other nine exceptions listed above? 
• Are there means of tracking the number of non-American citizens who immediately receive SNAP benefits upon arriving in the United States to ensure there is not widespread fraud and abuse? If no, is this something that can be mandated to states to receive funding for their SNAP programs?            
• What is the annual cost to the SNAP benefits program for non-citizens who are seeking asylum? 

 
Questions for the United States Department of Homeland Security: 
 
•           How many migrants crossing the southern border are minors?  
•           What percentage of border crossers claim they are seeking asylum?
•           What is the total number of asylum seekers currently awaiting adjudication? 
•           What is the average wait time for adjudication for asylum seekers? 
•           What percentage of those seeking asylum are granted asylum? 

He ended the letter by saying he is grateful for the work the Trump Administration has done so far to remediate the devastating impact Biden’s open border policies have had on Americans. DesJarlais says he hopes to partner with Rollins and Noem to continue this work.  

###

 

Congressman DesJarlais’ full letter to Secretary Rollins and Secretary Noem can be found HERE.