Sponsors (48)
The bill protects low-income families and program-operating states from interruptions in SNAP and WIC benefits (including retroactive payments) at the cost of additional federal emergency spending and potential weakened incentives for timely congressional appropriations, with noncompliant states bearing risk of unreimbursed costs.
Low-income households, parents, and children who rely on SNAP and WIC will continue receiving nutrition benefits and services during a USDA funding lapse, preventing hunger and maintaining food security.
Individuals who missed SNAP/WIC benefits between Sept 30, 2025 and enactment will receive retroactive payments, restoring household resources and reducing short-term financial hardship.
State agencies that operated SNAP, WIC, and related block grant programs in compliance with federal law will be reimbursed for costs incurred during the lapse, reducing fiscal strain on those state governments.
Taxpayers will bear the cost of emergency Treasury-funded payments to cover benefits during the lapse, increasing federal outlays and potentially adding to the deficit or future fiscal pressures.
States that failed to operate programs in compliance during the lapse may not be reimbursed and could face unexpected fiscal burdens and program disruptions.
Using Treasury emergency appropriations to cover nutrition benefits during funding lapses could reduce incentives for timely congressional action on full-year USDA appropriations, increasing reliance on stopgap measures in the future.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Automatically funds SNAP benefits, SNAP consolidated block grants, and WIC for FY2026 if USDA appropriations lapse, retroactive to Sept 30, 2025 until appropriations are enacted or Sept 30, 2026.
Introduced October 29, 2025 by Ben Ray Luján · Last progress October 29, 2025
Provides temporary, automatic funding to keep SNAP benefits, SNAP consolidated block grants, and the WIC program operating for FY2026 if Congress does not enact USDA appropriations. The law directs the Treasury to provide "such sums as are necessary," makes funding retroactive to September 30, 2025 to cover missed benefits, requires reimbursement to States for lawful costs they incurred during a lapse, and ends when FY2026 USDA appropriations are enacted or on September 30, 2026, whichever comes first.