Statement for the Congressional Record by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
“Government Shutdown and SNAP Funding”
Thursday, October 30, 2025
The federal government has a full lapse in funding and has for 30 days. This is not a new revelation.
I want to alert Senator Schumer to a grave concern I have.
On November 1, 42 million Americans, including 131,000 Iowa families, will lose their food stamps.
Food stamps cost $9 billion a month to administer.
I’m calling on Senator Schumer to notify 42 million Americans that, due to the Schumer Shutdown, their families won’t be able to buy groceries with food stamps.
Let’s wake up to the fact that Washington is an island surrounded by reality.
Iowans in the real America aren’t glued to the TV.
Iowans are living their lives, working hard and raising their families. Their world doesn’t revolve around Congress.
But guess what? Senate Democrats are taking away their food stamps as leverage for unrelated political demands.
Get the word out Leader Schumer. Don’t let Americans figure this out at the grocery store this weekend. That’s unfair to the American people.
Senate Republicans have voted 13 times to fully fund the government, including food assistance. Forty-four Senate Democrats have opposed fully funding the government 13 times.
Americans are suffering because Democrats are holding government hostage.
I can’t understand why Senate Democrats want Americans to lose access to their food assistance, law enforcement to go unpaid and air traffic controllers to call in sick for work.
I’m begging Senator Schumer to return the government to the American people, as it’s their government.
-30-