NOTE: The video above is the full press conference
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) — Governor Glenn Youngkin announced a new stopgap state food assistance program Tuesday during a press conference alongside Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet Kelly to discuss the delivery of emergency food benefits to Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries once the money runs out Nov. 1.
Youngkin says the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) was set up in record time to keep food on the tables of state residents who need it most.
“It’s like building an airplane while it’s taking off. It’s never been done before,” Youngkin said.
Gov. Youngkin alleged this government shutdown was a “Democratic shutdown” and said if the Democratic party does not end the shutdown by Nov. 1, the state of Virginia will implement Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) Nov. 3.
“The plan will use the same cards, the existing SNAP, EBT cards that everyone currently has and will deliver benefits to those same cards,” said Youngkin. “It will be the exact same group of beneficiaries that received benefits in the month of October.”
The governor mentioned that under VENA beneficiaries would receive their funding weekly instead of monthly under SNAP. Youngkin explained that while supplies last, money would be moved from the state’s surplus fund to cover VENA, which will total $37.5 million per week.
“We are pleased that the financial strength of the Commonwealth of the Virginia, the surpluses we’ve been running, in all candor, the tremendous job growth and business investment has enabled it [the funding],” Gov. Youngkin said.
Youngkin further explained the first-third of beneficiaries will receive their funding Nov. 3, the second-third will see funding Nov. 5, and the last third will receive funding Nov. 7.
“This is not easy,” Youngkin said. “We are creating a parallel food assistance program or system that in fact is gonna step in where the federal government is not able to.”
Warner told 10 On Your Side he’ll submit a plan to get the Agriculture Department to keep the money coming from SNAP. Meanwhile Kaine, Schumer and other Senate Democrats want subsidies for the Affordable Care Act to be continued before they’ll agree to fund the government.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.