Pricetag: $6.3 million
by VDC staff
[Editor’s note: Due to an editing oversight, an earlier version of this news story incorrectly stated that the Republican Senate majority was responsible for the government shutdown. In fact, the blame for the shutdown is cast by the opposing parties on each other. Thank you to readers Jude Piser and Sandy Oliver for pointing this out.]
With more than 65,000 Vermonters facing the loss of food and heating assistance due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, the Vermont Emergency Board voted unanimously Tuesday to fully fund SNAP (3SquaresVT) and LIHEAP benefits at the state level.
The board — composed of the governor and the chairs of the Legislature’s key budget committees — approved an emergency plan to prevent service disruptions for tens of thousands of low-income families, older Vermonters, and working households who rely on the programs for grocery support and heating fuel assistance.
“One in ten Vermonters was about to lose access to these benefits,” House Speaker Jill Krowinski said following the vote. “The Republican-led shutdown has created real fear and anxiety for families wondering how they’ll afford groceries or heat their homes. Today’s vote shows that in Vermont, we still believe the government’s job is to show up for people and work together to get things done.”
Krowinski noted that SNAP’s impact extends beyond individual households. “3SquaresVT doesn’t just feed our most vulnerable neighbors; it supports our farms, grocery stores, and small businesses. Without it, we’d see a ripple effect across our entire local food economy,” she said.
The swift, bipartisan decision came after extensive coordination between the Administration and legislative leaders. Representatives Robin Scheu and Emilie Kornheiser, both members of the Emergency Board, said the action was aimed at protecting Vermonters as winter approaches.
Two Vermont House committees will meet Wednesday to assess the impact of recent federal policy changes on food assistance, housing, climate planning, and energy programs.
The House Committee on Human Services will convene at 9 a.m. in Room 46 to review federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and receive updates on statewide homelessness and housing pressures. Lawmakers will hear from agency officials, service providers, and advocates to evaluate how Vermonters are being affected and whether legislative action is needed.
At the same time, the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure will meet in Room 9 to discuss shifting federal climate and energy policies and their implications for Vermont’s clean energy goals and infrastructure planning.
Both meetings will be livestreamed and recorded on the General Assembly’s website.