Sponsors (102)
The bill preserves continuous nutrition assistance for vulnerable families during appropriations lapses and shields compliant states from costs, but it raises short-term federal spending and adds administrative and compliance risks for federal and state agencies.
Low-income individuals, including parents and families, will continue receiving uninterrupted SNAP benefits and will receive retroactive coverage for any missed benefits from the lapse date, preventing gaps in food assistance.
Pregnant women, infants, and children participating in WIC will maintain access to nutrition services and benefits during an appropriations lapse, protecting maternal and child nutrition.
State governments will be reimbursed for costs they lawfully incurred running SNAP, Section 19 block grants, and WIC during the lapse, reducing fiscal strain on state agencies.
Taxpayers may face higher short-term federal outlays because Treasury may pay benefits in advance of final appropriations, increasing near-term government spending.
Advance payments and retroactive reimbursements will create additional accounting, budgeting, and administrative burdens for USDA, Treasury, and state agencies, complicating reconciliation.
If a state did not comply with federal law while operating programs during the lapse, that state may not be reimbursed and could be left to absorb program costs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes Treasury to provide funds so USDA can continue SNAP, section 19 block grants, and WIC without interruption during an FY2026 appropriations lapse, with retroactive reimbursement to states.
Provides emergency Treasury funding for FY2026 so USDA can continue SNAP benefits, section 19 block grants, and WIC without interruption if no FY2026 USDA appropriations (or continuing resolution) are enacted. Funding is retroactive to cover missed benefits from September 30, 2025 through enactment and is available until either FY2026 USDA appropriations are passed or September 30, 2026. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to use the funds to reimburse State agencies for costs (including benefits issued) incurred while operating SNAP, section 19 block grants, and WIC during an appropriations lapse, provided the State complied with federal law; expenditures will be charged to the eventual applicable appropriation when enacted.
Introduced November 7, 2025 by Jahana Hayes · Last progress November 7, 2025