Durbin Commends Chicago-Area Businesses For Feeding Illinoisans As Trump Administration Refuses To Process Full Snap Benefits During Republicans’ Shutdown
“President Trump became the first president in history to deliberately disrupt the processing of November SNAP benefits, jeopardizing 42 million Americans’ food security,” Durbin said in his speech on the Senate floor
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) commended Chicago-area businesses for offering meals to Illinoisans as the Trump Administration reluctantly provides minimal SNAP benefits to 42 million Americans during the Republican-led government shutdown. Last month, the Trump Administration claimed that it did not have the authority to process SNAP benefits in November despite the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) having between $8 and 9 billion in emergency funds to be used in the event of a government shutdown.
“Manny’s deli, located right by the University of Illinois Chicago, has been a legend in the community for eight decades. If you walk into Manny’s, you will see a microcosm of the city of Chicago—people from everywhere, every kind of background, joined together over a fondness for heart portions and delicious sandwiches. Manny’s has been a staple of this community, and today they announced that they will provide free meals to those on SNAP,” Durbin began.
“Why has Manny’s found it necessary to feed those on SNAP? Because President Trump became the first president in history to deliberately disrupt the processing of November SNAP benefits, jeopardizing 42 million Americans’ food security,” Durbin said.
Last week, federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ruled that the Trump Administration must use its authority to pay out SNAP benefits to Americans for the month of November. Despite USDA having between $8 and $9 billion in emergency funds to support the program, the Trump Administration announced today that only half of those emergency funds will be used to cover SNAP costs this month, cutting benefits for the millions of Americans who rely on the program.
“Although USDA was told by two federal courts that they had the authority to fully fund SNAP, today they announced they will only pay half of November’s benefits. That is going to cause a real hardship for millions of Americans who count on the food stamp program. Thankfully, Manny’s Delicatessen in Chicago is willing to do what the Trump Administration is not—working to make sure that nobody in their city goes hungry,” Durbin said. “I’m grateful to the great staff at Manny’s and their owner, Danny Raskin, for their generosity as SNAP payments are cut under President Trump.”
“And Manny’s isn’t the only restaurant in the city of Chicago who is helping those on SNAP. It’s one among many stepping up across Chicago to make sure that Illinoisans don’t go hungry. Tazza Italian Ristorante, Wooden Paddle, and one of the better pizza places Lou Malnati’s, and other restaurants as well are offering SNAP recipients free or discounted lunch during the month of November,” Durbin said.
Durbin concluded his remarks by calling on Republicans to finally engage with Democrats in a negotiation to extend Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits and end the government shutdown. If these enhanced tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of the year, more than four million Americans are expected to lose their health care coverage, including more than 140,000 people in Illinois.
In Illinois, roughly 500,000 people rely on ACA enhanced premium tax credits to afford their health care. For a 60-year-old couple making $82,000 a year in Illinois, their annual health insurance premiums are expected to increase by $17,000 next year, a more than 250 percent price hike. A family of four, earning $64,000 a year in Illinois, could see their annual premium increase by $2,571 a year, a 226 percent increase.
“We can solve this problem in the Senate, and we can do it this week. There is no excuse. The President is back from his trip overseas. The House can be called into session and return—and they should be sooner rather than later. And we can sit down and work out the problem of what to do with skyrocketing health insurance premiums,” Durbin said. “Open up the government, which we can do when we reach an agreement… on health costs.”
“Drop the fanfare, close the door, find a table, invite the President and the leaders, Republican and Democrat, get it done this week. We can do it. I believe we can, if we have the will to do it. I hope some people will step up on the other side of the aisle and join in this bipartisan effort. It’s the only way to end this government shutdown,” Durbin concluded his remarks.
Durbin is a cosponsor of the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025, legislation that prevents the Trump Administration from illegally withholding available funds for SNAP and WIC. Last week, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) attempted to pass the legislation by Unanimous Consent (UC), but the bill was blocked by U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).
Last month, Durbin joined 45 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins calling on USDA to release the billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure SNAP benefits continue in November.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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