The bill has the backing of 10 Republicans, including Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), Katie Britt (Ala.) and John Cornyn (Texas). Hawley’s bill also has support from one Democrat, Sen. Peter Welch (Vt.).

Lawmakers in Louisiana approved a resolution Wednesday to allow the state's Department of Health to use up to $150 million in funding for some people who would normally receive SNAP benefits.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — more commonly known as SNAP, or food stamps — is a key benefits program that serves more than 40 million people across the country. Now, the shutdown is threatening to suspend benefits, raising concerns over where millions of people who rely on the program will turn to for food.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced additional steps his administration is expediting food assistance for at-risk Missourians, given the impending loss of November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the federal government shutdown.

The city of Flint is making plans to launch a food voucher program to help households enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program if benefits are suspended starting on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday announced that Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) will deliver benefits to people who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If the shutdown hasn’t ended by Nov. 1, VENA will begin weekly distributions on Monday.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the launch of the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance program (VENA), a state-funded initiative designed to support Virginians

“Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the unsigned message posted on the USDA’s official website reads.