Tennessee’s members of Congress, from Marsha Blackburn to Steve Cohen
Tennessee’s congressional delegation has 11 members: Two U.S. Senators and nine members of of the U.S. House of Representatives. Ten are Republicans and one is a Democrat.
- A potential government shutdown threatens to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for one in 10 Tennesseans.
- Senate Republicans have introduced legislation to ensure SNAP benefits continue through 2026, regardless of a shutdown.
- The state of Tennessee and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have indicated they will not cover the lost federal benefits.
- Congressional leaders remain at a stalemate over government funding, with disagreements centered on health care policy.
There may be relief coming for the one in 10 Tennesseans who will lose food assistance Nov. 1. Senate Republicans, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, are backing legislation that would pay for uninterrupted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits through 2026 even if the government shutdown continues.
Gov. Bill Lee said Oct. 24 the state will not be able to step in and cover for lost federal SNAP benefits. On Oct. 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it wouldn’t tap into its contingency funds to reload beneficiaries’ cards that pay for groceries.
The SNAP funding bill would be separate from the larger shutdown debate and is specifically designed to help those who rely on federal help to buy groceries.
“(Tennesseans) shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from because the Democrats are holding government funding hostage to appease their far-left base,” Blackburn said in a press release. “Our Keep SNAP Funded Act would ensure Tennesseans do not miss a meal during the Democrats’ shutdown.”
In addition to Blackburn, Sens. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Susan Collins of Maine, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Lisa Murowski of Alaska are cosponsoring Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley’s legislation.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, an Iowa Republican, filed companion legislation in the House, though Speaker Mike Johnson has said he won’t call members back until the shutdown ends.
The shutdown remains in effect as congressional leaders are locked in a bitter stalemate over health care policy with no indications of a breakthrough since the government ran out of funding Oct. 1.
Democrats are pushing to extend tax breaks for 24 million Americans who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Republicans and Trump have said they are open to the idea but insist Democrats agree first to their government funding plan.
Republicans are in control of the House, Senate and presidency but need Senate Democrats to pass the government funding extension to end the shutdown.
Blackburn’s staff did not immediately answer a question about when the bill could receive a vote and whether there’s support in the House for it.
U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, a Knoxville Republican, told Knox News through a spokesperson Oct. 21 there wasn’t much he could do to support constituents who rely on SNAP.
Burchett represents at least 55,758 people who rely on SNAP benefits in Tennessee’s 2nd District, which is centered on Knoxville and covers all or part of eight East Tennessee counties.
“It’s unfortunate that the Democrats’ government shutdown is impacting so many hardworking East Tennesseans,” Burchett spokesman Will Garrett said in an email. “Democrats are holding government funding hostage.”
Allie Feinberg is the politics reporter for Knox News. Email: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie
