U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan visits NWI food bank as shutdown lingers
Volunteers in bright green safety vests quietly packed food Monday at the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana as U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan talked about the impact of America’s longest government shutdown on poor and vulnerable Hoosiers.
Mrvan, D-Highland, came to the Merrillville food bank to learn about its elevated emergency response plan after food stamp benefits ended on Saturday as the shutdown dragged on.
A small break came later Monday when President Trump agreed to move about $4.65 billion from the USDA’s contingency fund to pay for food stamp benefits for about half of the 42 million Americans dependent on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Mrvan and other House members haven’t been in session for about six weeks as Speaker Mike Johnson seeks to pressure Senate Democrats to act on the government funding bill the House approved Sept. 19.
Mrvan urged Johnson to call the House back so they can work toward an end to the shutdown.
“Ultimately, if this moment doesn’t awaken your soul, I don’t know what will. The fact of the matter is, people are going hungry because our government is shut down,” said Mrvan.
He said the shutdown has left some families forced to choose between heating their homes or buying medication and food.
“I want to get back to work,” said Mrvan.
“If the Senate does pass a CR (continuing resolution), then it will be 48 hours more that we’ll need to return,” he said. “Let’s get us there, eliminate that time frame and let’s get this done.”
Victor Garcia, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, said Mrvan’s leadership has been instrumental in ensuring the food bank has the resources it needs.
He also thanked Jeff Strack, president and CEO of Strack & Van Til grocery, for its continued support to the food bank.
“We are deeply committed to supporting our neighbors here in this difficult time,” said Strack. “We’ll continue to work closely with the food bank in Northwest Indiana and the many local food pantries which they serve, as well as other organizations that are helping our neighbors within the community to ensure that those in need have access to a sense of food resources….”
Mrvan urged Johnson to call the House back so they can work toward an end to the shutdown.
“Ultimately, if this moment doesn’t awaken your soul, I don’t know what will. The fact of the matter is, people are going hungry because our government is shut down,” said Mrvan.
He said the food bank gets most of its food through donations. It works with wholesalers, distributors, and retailers to salvage as much as it can.
It also gets food from the USDA government commodities program. It can’t order more food from the USDA during the shutdown, he said.
“That’s a very real concern that is keeping me up at night right now. Hopefully, something will happen soon,” he said.
Saturday marked the first time in history the SNAP program ran out of funding.
On Friday, a federal judge ordered SNAP funding to continue during the shutdown after government lawyers said it lacks authority to use its contingency fund for SNAP.
After Trump agreed to release some funding Monday, the USDA said it could take weeks or months for families to receive food benefits.
A government website reported 586,000 Hoosiers received SNAP benefits, including an estimated 228,000 children.