Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis visited the ACT Care Foundation, a food pantry on Staten Island, to highlight concerns about potential disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the ongoing federal government shutdown. The program serves 42 million Americans, including 2.9 million New Yorkers and more than 121,000 residents in New York’s 11th Congressional District.
If the shutdown continues beyond October 31, SNAP benefits could be affected starting November 1. Children make up 31% of those who rely on these benefits, while seniors account for 29%, and individuals with disabilities represent 8%. Malliotakis said she is working to reopen the government and protect essential programs for families.
The House of Representatives has passed a clean extension of funding levels four times since September 2024. However, only three Democratic Senators supported the bill in the Senate during its most recent vote, resulting in a government shutdown that began October 1.
Malliotakis is also supporting H.R. 5822 – the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025, which was introduced by Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and aims to ensure uninterrupted SNAP benefits during a government shutdown.
“This preventable government shutdown is now creating unnecessary hardship for local grocery stores, food pantries and the families who depend on them. That’s why the House passed a clean funding bill with no partisan strings attached to keep these vital programs funded,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “Now 42 million Americans, including 3 million New Yorkers, are at risk of seeing their SNAP benefits temporarily disrupted because Senate Democrats, led by our own Senator Schumer, have voted down this funding bill 13 times. It’s time for them to stop the political games, do the right thing, and simply vote for the same bill with the same language and funding levels he previously supported four times!”
ACT Cares Foundation Administrator Anne Marie Selfridge commented on how seniors are particularly affected: “The government shutdown is devastating for our seniors. Many rely on SNAP just to keep food on the table, and without it, they’re forced to make impossible choices between eating, paying for medication, or covering rent. Our pantry is seeing the fear firsthand — people who’ve worked their whole lives now worrying about their next meal.”
During her visit to ACT Care Foundation with Selfridge, Malliotakis helped serve food to seniors.
Nicole Malliotakis has represented New York’s 11th district in Congress since replacing Max Rose in 2021 (https://malliotakis.house.gov/about). Before her current role in Congress, she served in the New York State Assembly from 2011 until her election to Congress (https://malliotakis.house.gov/about/full-biography). Born in New York City in 1980 and currently residing in Staten Island (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/nyregion/nicole-malliotakis-max-rose.html), Malliotakis holds degrees from Seton Hall University and Wagner College.
