Right now, 1.4 million Michiganders—including nearly half a million children—are on the brink of losing access to food assistance because of the ongoing federal government shutdown. In the face of this crisis, Michigan House Democrats have proposed a $900 million emergency fund to keep Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits flowing during the federal pause. We urge our state leaders to pass this emergency legislation without delay.

SNAP is not a luxury—it's a lifeline. Nearly 13% of Michigan households rely on it to feed their families. With the federal government ordering a freeze on November SNAP benefits, families across Michigan could be left hungry in the middle of winter and during the holiday season. This is especially dangerous for our most vulnerable neighbors: children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families already stretched thin by rising food prices.

The state has the power to act. Lawmakers have identified unused project funds that could be redirected to create a state-level SNAP Fund, bridging the gap during this federal failure. These are Michigan dollars that can and should be used to meet Michigan needs. But every day of inaction puts more families at risk.

This isn’t about politics—it’s about people. Ensuring children have breakfast before school, helping seniors afford groceries, and supporting struggling parents shouldn’t be held hostage by a federal stalemate. State lawmakers must step up where Washington has failed.

We call on the Michigan House and Senate—both Democrats and Republicans—and Governor Gretchen Whitmer to immediately pass and enact the emergency SNAP funding legislation. Let Michigan be a state that refuses to let families go hungry because of political gridlock.

Food is a basic human right. Sign now to demand action before SNAP benefits run out in November.