TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO
THE CRASH.
ASHLEY:
THE LONGER THE GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN GOES ON, THE GREATER
THE CHANCES IT WILL IMPACT THE
ABILITY OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
TO FEED THEIR
FAMILIES.
BARRY:
22NEWS REPORTER HECTOR MOLINA IS
LIVE IN SPRINGFIELD WITH WHY THE
FOOD
STAMPS PROGRAM COULD COME TO A
SUDDEN END.
HECTOR MOLINA:
MILLIONS OF LOW-INCOME AMERICANS
DEPEND ON SNAP BENEFITS.
AND THEY COULD HAVE A HARDER
TIME AFFORDING FOOD IF THE
PARTIAL
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES
INTO FEBRUARY.
THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN COULD
AFFECT THE ABILITY OF MORE THAN
38 MILLION
AMERICANS TO FEED THEIR
FAMILIES.
38 MILLION PEOPLE TAKE PART IN
THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM, OR "SNAP," THE FORMAL
NAME FOR FOOD STAMPS.
THE U.S. DEPARMENT OF
AGRICULTURE SAID THE
SNAP PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH
JANUARY BUT IT ONLY HAS $3
BILLION IN RESERVES TO COVER THE
MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
ACCORDING TO THE CENTER ON
BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES, IF
THE
RESERVE WERE DISTRIBUTED EVENLY,
THAT WOULD TRANSLATE INTO A $90
CUT FOR 19.4 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS
THAT NORMALLY RECEIVE $245 A
MONTH.
SNAP HAS YET TO RELEASE A PLAN
OF ACTION IF THOSE RESERVES RUN
OUT.
ONE CHICOPEE WOMAN WORRIES ABOUT
THE CHILDREN WHO COULD BE
IMPACTED.
I'M VERY OPPOSED TO IT THERE'S A
LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS
AND THEIR'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR THEM SO I
DON'T LIKE IT AT ALL.
IF SNAP BENEFITS RUN OUT, THEN
MANY AMERICANS WILL LOOK TO FOOD
BANKS
WHICH NORMALLY SEE DONATIONS
DROP OFF AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.
HECTOR MOLINA:
WE LEFT MESSAGES FOR THE FOOD
BANK OF WESTERN MASSACHSUETTS
AND
WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR
BACK.
FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE WORKING
WITH STATE AGENCEIS TO SEE WHAT
MONEY
MIGHT BE AVILABLE FOR
REALLOCATION.
