Rhode Island Federal Judge John McConnell orders funds to be released ASAP
By Andrew Harris,
After a week of warnings and fear over an end to food assistance for 42 million Americans, about 5000 Allegany County residents, and about 10,000 Steuben County residents a federal judge has intervened. Judge McConnell’s order demands that the USDA use contingency funding, or other available funding if necessary, to make November 1 SNAP payments.
In his order Judge McConnell stated:
“There is no doubt, and it is beyond argument, that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn’t already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food for their family.”
The order was in response to 26 states who filed a court action asking for an emergency injunction to avoid a lapse in benefits. NYS Attorney General Letitia James reacted:
“The administration tried to use the shutdown as an excuse to withhold food assistance from vulnerable Americans, but the court has made clear that the law requires those benefits to continue. The federal government cannot simply walk away from its obligation to feed the people it serves. We will keep fighting until every family in New York and across the nation can put food on the table.”
Judge McConnell’s order demands that the USDA provide an update on the future of SNAP funding to the court by noon on Monday November 3.
Steuben County Chairwoman Kelly Fitzpatrick was please that Judge McConnell agreed with the county’s recent plea to lawmakers:
“We are grateful that the judge in this case has put food security and the best interests of people over political nonsense.”
