Malliotakis Visits Staten Island Food Pantry, Pushes to Protect SNAP Benefits During Shutdown
(STATEN ISLAND, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis visited ACT Care Foundation, a Staten Island food pantry that serves local senior citizens and families in need. During her visit, she discussed the importance of supporting food security programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which could be impacted if the federal government shutdown continues beyond October 31.
Due to the ongoing government shutdown, SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans including 2.9 million New Yorkers and more than 121,000 residents in New York’s 11th Congressional District are set to be impacted starting November 1. Of those impacted, 31% are children, 29% are seniors, and 8% are individuals with disabilities. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Rep. Malliotakis is continuing her efforts to reopen government and protect critical programs that families rely on.
The House of Representatives passed a clean extension of funding levels negotiated and passed by the House and Senate four times since September 2024. However, only three Democrat Senators joined Republicans to vote for the bill in the Senate this time around, which has resulted in a government shutdown beginning October 1.
In addition to voting to keep the government open, Rep. Malliotakis is supporting H.R. 5822 – the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025, introduced by Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, which ensures SNAP benefits remain uninterrupted throughout the government shutdown.
“This preventable government shutdown is now creating unnecessary hardship for local grocery stores, food pantries and the families who depend on them. That’s why the House passed a clean funding bill with no partisan strings attached to keep these vital programs funded,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. "Now 42 million Americans, including 3 million New Yorkers, are at risk of seeing their SNAP benefits temporarily disrupted because Senate Democrats, led by our own Senator Schumer, have voted down this funding bill 13 times. It’s time for them to stop the political games, do the right thing, and simply vote for the same bill with the same language and funding levels he previously supported four times!”
“The government shutdown is devastating for our seniors. Many rely on SNAP just to keep food on the table, and without it, they’re forced to make impossible choices between eating, paying for medication, or covering rent. Our pantry is seeing the fear firsthand — people who’ve worked their whole lives now worrying about their next meal," said ACT Cares Foundation Administrator Anne Marie Selfridge.
Rep. Malliotakis joined ACT Care Foundation Administrator Ann Marie Selfridge at Staten Island’s ACT Care Foundation, where she helped serve food to seniors.
Recently on CNN, Rep. Malliotakis Warns of SNAP Interruption if Senate Democrats Continue Shutdown Shenanigans