ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - State Democratic lawmakers called on Gov. Brian Kemp to call a rare special legislative session Monday as food assistance benefits dried up because of the government shutdown.

The shutdown entered its 27th day on Monday, making it the second longest in American history behind the 35-day closure of the federal government in 2019.

Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Human Services announced the lack of funding would lead to the expiration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP , sometimes colloquially referred to as food stamps.

“That means Georgia families may lose access to food assistance within days,” said state Sen. Nikki Merritt (D- Grayson). “We cannot allow this to happen.”

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