Delivers Food at Bradenton Emergency Food Distribution Site
BRADENTON, Fla. — Yesterday, Congressman Vern Buchanan toured the Food Bank of Manatee, where he met with staff and volunteers addressing the surge in demand for food assistance caused by the ongoing Democrat Shutdown.
Following his tour, he visited the Food Bank of Manatee’s emergency drive-through food distribution at Dream Church in Bradenton, where he hosted a press conference to address the direct impact of the Democrat Shutdown on SNAP benefits recipients and helped deliver food to local residents.
Buchanan reiterated his support for the No Budget, No Pay Act to ensure members of Congress don’t get paid during government shutdowns and pledged to make a donation to the Food Bank of Manatee to support those in need, saying, “One way we resolve this is if members aren’t producing and they aren’t getting a budget, we make sure they don’t get paid. In fact, I’m willing to take my pay and make that a part of that commitment. I’ll give my pay from the last month, basically, to the Food Bank here.”
Find pictures and videos from Congressman Buchanan’s tour and press conference here.
“With SNAP benefits delayed, our local food banks are picking up the slack,” said Buchanan. “I am so grateful that organizations like the Food Bank of Manatee exist to support our community, but they cannot shoulder this burden alone. Nearly 3 million people across Florida and 40,000 people right here in Manatee County rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table.”
“I joined House Republicans to pass a clean, responsible funding bill to keep the government open. Our bill ensured that SNAP benefits would have been paid on time. However, due to Congressional Democrats’ refusal to pass Republicans’ clean funding bill, 40,000 people in our community are at risk of going hungry. This shutdown will end when Democrats put party labels aside and work with us to reopen the government. I hope that my Democrat colleagues come to the table, do their job and help us get our communities the support they desperately need,” Buchanan continued.
“We are truly grateful for Congressman Buchanan’s support of yesterday’s critical food distribution,” said Maribeth Phillips, President and CEO of The Food Bank of Manatee and Meals on Wheels PLUS. “Congressman Buchanan’s participation brings a spotlight on food insecurity in Manatee and the importance of our programs, especially now with SNAP benefits paused affecting thousands in Manatee County, including babies, children, families and seniors.”
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DEMOCRAT SHUTDOWN BY THE NUMBERS
- An estimated 40,000 Manatee County residents rely on SNAP benefits to feed their families
- Over 2.9 million SNAP enrollees in Florida are at risk of losing food benefits if the shutdown continues
- Florida’s nearly 155,000 federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay
- Florida’s economy will lose approximately $911 million each week the shutdown extends, the equivalent of $4 billion per month
