About 42 million Americans rely on SNAP to help pay for food every month. The payments help low-income individuals and families buy food at their local grocery stores with an EBT card that can be used on qualifying items.

A funding lapse for food stamps, set to hit next week, became a new focus for Democrats on Wednesday as the partial government shutdown enters its fifth week with no resolution in sight. In a rare diversion from their single-minded focus on extending expiring health insurance subsidies,