DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) - Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday she has directed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to hold regular calls with Iowa’s food banks as the federal government shutdown continues. The Republican also said she is reviewing the state’s food insecurity response plan from the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare for potential delays of SNAP benefits if the government shutdown is not ended before Nov. 1.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps, gives food benefits for low-income families and is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. Approximately 131,000 households in Iowa are eligible for SNAP benefits, which cost $45 million per month.

Reynolds and Iowa congression

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