Rep. Stansbury Introduces SNAP BACK Act to Prevent Food Benefit Cuts During Government Shutdowns
This bill is sitting in the House committees where it was sent in October 2025. No action has taken place on this proposal since October 2025, which means it has been stalled for about eight months. Most bills like this do not receive a committee vote and do not move forward.
While this bill addresses a major issue for millions of families, it currently lacks the bipartisan support needed to move through a divided Congress.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 1489 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 1489 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
The bill specifically includes federally recognized tribes in its reimbursement provision. If a tribe spends its own money to keep SNAP or WIC running during a federal funding gap, the federal government must pay them back. This recognizes tribal sovereignty and removes the financial risk tribes face when stepping in to protect their members from hunger during shutdowns.
“The Secretary of Agriculture shall reimburse any State of federally recognized American Indian Tribe that makes an emergency appropriation of State or tribal funds to cover a lapse in Federal funding for these programs up to the amount expended by the State or tribe.”
Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury and other New Mexico delegation members introduced the SNAP BACK Act to ensure food assistance continues during the government shutdown. The bill requires the immediate release of funds and prohibits the administration from withholding benefits for political reasons.
Rep. Rob Bresnahan introduced the Keep WIC Working Act to fund nutrition programs during the shutdown. The effort mirrors Democratic proposals like the SNAP BACK Act, as both parties face pressure to protect food security for millions of families caught in the budget impasse.
State lawmakers are proposing emergency measures to backfill federal shortfalls in SNAP and WIC using state rainy day funds. The move follows federal legislative efforts like the SNAP BACK Act intended to prevent the Trump administration from withholding food assistance during the shutdown.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
SNAP BACK Act.
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