CRIST TO DESANTIS: “RELEASE SNAP BENEFITS EARLY”
Washington, DC,
March 24, 2020
St. Petersburg, FL – U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis calling for the State of Florida to release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits early as low-income and vulnerable Floridians take the necessary steps to shelter in place during the coronavirus pandemic, also known as COVID-19.
In the letter, Congressman Crist states that “this small but crucial step would be an important way for the State of Florida to help” those in need. Crist specifically calls out how the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance for folks to stay at home and self-quarantine for 14 days if necessary, can leave many Floridians without a steady income or the resources needed to feed their families for an extended period of time. Releasing the benefit early would allow families in need to stock up in preparation for a quarantine or extended shelter-in-place order. Congressman Crist has been leading efforts to improve the government’s response to COVID-19, recently sending letters to the Centers for Disease Control (letter) pressing for increased transparency; asking the Florida Surgeon General to share more information on possible cases in Florida (letter); calling on the President to appoint a Coronavirus Czar (letter); asking the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control to work to improve, expand, and expedite coronavirus testing (letter); and asking for the Department of Health and Human Services to use its emergency authority to support drive-thru testing for the coronavirus (letter). A pdf of the letter to Governor DeSantis can be found here with the text below. March 24, 2020 Office of Governor Ron DeSantis Dear Governor DeSantis, At such a critical time, we must not forget about the most vulnerable. For the roughly three million Floridians who benefit from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), I ask that you take the necessary steps to release these benefits early. To combat the spread of coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control has requested that individuals practice social distancing, limiting their contact with others. However, most recipients of SNAP benefits do not have the resources needed to live at home for an extended period, living hand to mouth on monthly payments to purchase the food that they need to feed themselves and their families. In other crises, Florida has authorized the early release of SNAP benefits, most recently during Hurricane Dorian. The COVID-19 global pandemic has left many Floridians without a steady stream of income placing great stress on those in need. In response to these growing demands, and the potential requirement for some SNAP recipients to need to self-quarantine for 14 days or more, I urge you to offer the early release of next month’s SNAP benefits, effective immediately. Congress is working to ease the burden on the American people and the economy. This small but crucial step would be an important way for the State of Florida to help. Thank you for consideration, and God bless. Sincerely,
Charlie Crist UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN |
