Senate Majority Leader Cannizzaro, SNAP Recipients Call on Governor Lombardo to Address SNAP Funding

LAS VEGAS, NV - As the federal government remains shut down, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been in limbo. Nevada SNAP recipients received partial payments earlier this week. Today, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro joined former and current SNAP recipients to raise awareness of the growing food insecurity facing Nevada families. With a special session on the horizon, leaders are considering options to address SNAP funding in place of the federal government reopening or paying benefits during the shutdown.

LINK TO VIDEO

Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro issued the following statement:

“Senate Democrats in the Nevada Legislature, my colleagues, are introducing a proposal to establish a state-funded assistance program during the upcoming special session … We are going to ensure that Nevadans receive their full equivalent of SNAP benefits for the month of November, and we are going to ensure that we are setting aside additional funding to ensure that we’re prepared in case Republicans in DC refuse to do their job and feed Nevadans.

“Let me be very clear that we in the state of Nevada have the money to do this right now, and it is imperative that we do so. And we want to ensure that our citizens, that our fellow Nevadans, that our friends and family and neighbors, especially the most vulnerable ones, are able to be fed."

Dawn Etcheverry, President of the Nevada State Education Association, issued the following statement:

“Right now, families across Nevada are struggling to put food on the table. As the federal

shutdown drags on, SNAP benefits have run out for some or have been significantly slashed for

many, leaving tens of thousands of Nevada families without access to the food they need to survive. This isn’t by accident; it’s a policy choice, and it’s one we cannot accept. More than one in eight Nevadans rely on SNAP. In some rural counties and urban neighborhoods, that number is even higher. Educators see this hunger crisis every day. We know that meals are more than food; they’re the fuel for learning. You can’t expect a student to focus on math or reading when their stomach is empty.

I taught in our Nevada classrooms for years, and I’ve seen firsthand how hunger affects achievement, attendance, and behavior. That’s why educators across the state are stepping up to fill the gap, organizing food drives, packing meals, and reaching into their own pockets. But generosity can’t replace federal responsibility. Educators can’t be expected to solve a hunger crisis on their own. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are holding food hostage. Two federal judges have ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use emergency funds to keep SNAP benefits flowing, and yet, the Trump administration has refused to comply. They are defying court orders while families go hungry.”

Andrew Clarke, Revenue Coalition Manager, New Day Nevada, issued the following statement:

“Federal Republicans have politicized feeding people to get away with ending the program to lower healthcare costs for millions of Americans. As a result, 505,500 Nevadans face not being able to put food on the table during the upcoming holiday season. At the same time, Republicans in Congress are all too happy to force their insurance premiums to skyrocket by as much as 158%.

Taking the lead of federal Republicans, our Governor here in Nevada is looking at bringing up the proposed film tax handout, which would return just 23 cents on the dollar. This decision to fund corporations and give handouts to only the wealthiest is bleeding state budgets dry. While the fight for lowering healthcare costs continues in DC, Nevada's leaders can take action here to address the needs of SNAP benefits and say no to corporate handouts.”

Shirley Bendzu, Member, Make the Road Action Nevada, issued the following statement:

“It is devastating, as a mother, to not know where your child’s next meal is coming from. What does it mean for families who rely on SNAP to have their benefits cut off? It means you save every bit of food possible, it means you watch your children eat before you do, and if they have anything left on their plates, that is your dinner. It is unconscionable for our President and Governor to allow this to happen. 

SNAP is a lifeline for our communities. It provides dignity as we can choose what we feed our families and when. It gives autonomy, choice, and freedom. Food banks have been a huge help to my family, but they are also very limited in what they can provide, since so many families are in the same situation as mine. SNAP has allowed me to provide fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins like chicken to my family that you would not be able to get at a food bank.”

CJ Vierra, Former SNAP Recipient, issued the following statement:

“I’m here today because I know firsthand what this program really means for families. It’s not about handouts. It’s about making sure people can put food on the table when times are tough. SNAP helps nearly 42 million people every month, that’s about 1 in 8 Americans, and most of them are families with kids, people with disabilities, or seniors. Here in Nevada, over 500,000 people rely on SNAP, and more than 60% of those benefits go to families with children.

My partner and I were both working and raising our kids, but it still wasn’t enough. SNAP helped us bridge the gap. It meant we didn’t have to choose between paying the bills and feeding our kids. The average benefit is only around $5 a day per person, but that $5 can be the difference between skipping a meal or sitting down at dinner as a family. When the Trump administration refuses to fund SNAP and Governor Lombardo refuses to stand up to them, they’re both complicit in a kind of cruelty that takes food off children’s tables. We need Governor Lombardo to stand up and make sure SNAP stays funded. Because using families like mine as political pawns is cruel, and no parent should have to worry about politics when they’re just trying to feed their kids.”

Manny Santamaria, Campaigns Director, Battle Born Progress, issued the following statement:

“I am just one of thousands and thousands of Nevadans who have similar stories. Stories of quiet desperation that you can only reflect on in your quietest moments while your family sleeps. Stories of resilience and ingenuity. Do you know how many dishes you can stretch out into 3 days of leftovers if you substitute mushrooms for meat? Have you ever had to go shopping knowing EXACTLY how much is available as you add items to your cart? Meanwhile, as people are trying to game out that scenario just before Thanksgiving, our governor is in DC charging $5k a plate at a fundraiser, and his only solution is to overload our food banks and force people to wait for hours on end in unseasonably warm weather for a chance at a blind box of provisions. Children are going hungry and their parents are stuck in an economy with more layoffs than job listings, but our governor is not willing to put our emergency funds to proper use.”

SPOKESPEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH

###

About Battle Born Progress: Battle Born Progress, through strategic communication efforts, empowers, engages and mobilizes Nevada voters to build a state where everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed. We support, engage, and mobilize the progressive community through bold leadership, strategic communications, accountability, and education. We are on the cutting edge of new media and are the go-to source for progressive issues and advocacy for traditional media.