PathWays PA Policy Blog

The government shutdown that began in December 2018 is now the longest in US history . Over 800,000 federal workers are missing paychecks, while millions more contract employees continue to go without work . The New York Times has an ongoing list of people and departments affected by the shutdown, including workers who have been called back to their government jobs to work without pay. CBS News reports that the shutdown has already done $1.2 billion in damage to the national economy.  You can find more information on the impact from the Coalition for Human Needs (CHN). Among those affected by the shutdown are SNAP (food stamp) recipients. While they received their February payments early , there is currently no guarantee that March benefits will be available. People relying on HUD for housing are also being affected, as over 1,000 contracts with housing facilities have not been renewed due to the shutdown. Take Action: CHN has information on the shutdown and a sample scr...

UPDATE (1/16/19): Many people are receiving their benefits BEFORE Friday. Please note - these are not additional or bonus. They are your benefits for February. If you live in PA and receive SNAP (food stamp) benefits, please read and share this message. You will be receiving your February benefits EARLY. Thanks to our friends at the Coalition Against Hunger for sharing this information. Download a flyer here . DUE TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, YOUR FEBRUARY SNAP BENEFITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON YOUR EBT (PA ACCESS) CARD by the end of the day on Friday, JANUARY 18, 2019. These are your February benefits coming early – they are not a bonus. You WILL NOT receive additional benefits in the month of February. USDA has directed all states to issue February benefits early – you will not be getting additional SNAP benefits until March at the earliest. New applications for SNAP are still being accepted and processed during the rest of January and during February. Eligible applicants...

As of today (January 8, 2019), the government shutdown has gone on for 17+ days.  Over 800,000 federal workers in the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and Department of Agriculture have been furloughed or are continuing to work without pay. And while these workers will likely collect back pay when government funding resumes, an estimated 4.1 million additional people who are contract employees for the federal government probably will not. Beyond those who work for the government, people throughout the country are feeling the effects of the shutdown . Funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) has already run out, although states have kept the program going with their own money so far. If the shutdown continues into February or March, it is likely that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) will also run out of money. According to the Coalition Against Hunger ...

On Monday, Congress came to a bipartisan agreement to end the three day federal shutdown . The legislation included six years of funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP had been operating without funding since the end of September, and, without this budget agreement, states were at risk of running out of CHIP funding by March. The agreement came at a price, though. No action was taken on the Dreamers (although there was a promise made to address the issue), and, in three weeks, we may be back here again. The budget resolution passed only funds the budget through February 8, giving Congress a short window to make decisions on a long-term plan. Action Steps Ask Congress to pass a budget that invests in everyone.  Call Congress at (202) 224-3121. Here's a sample script: "My name is ___, and I live in ___'s district. I am calling today to share my feelings on the federal budget. OUr communities are relying on programs like SNAP, rental...

From our friends at The Coalition for Human Needs This Thursday, federal borrowing authority will be exhausted. Congress needs to prevent that, and allow the Treasury to borrow for an extended period. A spending bill also needs to be passed so the government stops furloughing workers and prevent more harm to people who need food, energy assistance, Head Start, etc. Call your Representative today and ask them to end the shutdown and stop an economic meltdown. Call toll-free: 1-888-659-9562

From our friends at the Coalition on Human Needs End the Shutdown - Stop the Meltdown An Urgent Call for Your Help  The federal government has been partly shut for more than a week. Federal workers are prevented from doing their jobs. People are not getting services: Head Start, youth programs, mental health, emergency food... Inspections of food imports are way down; public health risks are up. And the unthinkable is being threatened by the House leadership: federal default on its debts and obligations if they don't get their way. Your voice is needed NOW: Call your Representative: Tell him/her to end the shutdown and stop an economic meltdown. Call toll-free: 1-888-659-9562 Wednesday - Friday, October 9 - 11 We really are heading towards a crisis - tell us you care, and will act . Suggested message when you call: As your constituent, I want you to act NOW to end the government shutdown and prevent the economic catastrophe of a government default, without ...

From our friends in Harrisburg. October 2, 2013 - Harrisburg – Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Michael Wolf reminded Pennsylvanians today that all Women, Infants and Children (WIC) offices across the state are open and providing services during the federal government shutdown. “The Pennsylvania WIC program is operating as it normally does at this time, despite the federal government shutdown,” Wolf said. “All local WIC offices are currently open and are continuing to provide vital services to the families and individuals who depend on them in the commonwealth.” The department anticipates that the Pennsylvania WIC program can continue normal operations in the short-term due to funds carried forward from the previous year and additional food funds, including rebates. “We are watching budgets closely and have instructed all local offices to ensure fiscal responsibility with their allocated funds during this time. If we all keep focused, we believe we can sustain the ...

The Coalition on Human Needs will host a webinar tomorrow beginning at 4:00PM to discuss the the most up-to-date information on the government shutdown. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more people will be affected. The focus will be on Head Start, families and children losing benefits as well as the approaching debt ceiling. The webinar will only be 30 minutes. Register Here!

Here is what we're reading as the shutdown continues: How the Shutdown is Impacting Specific Federal Workforce Programs : Based the information that is currently available, here is the National Skills Coalition's best understanding so far of the impact of the shutdown on certain employment and training programs. Domestic Violence Programs See Their Funding End : The Office of Justice Programs, the Office on Violence Against Women, and other federal agencies funding domestic violence programs planned to fund the programs through Friday, October 4, 2013. Since the shutdown has not ended, many programs must rely on any funds they have in hand to see them through the fiscal crisis. If You Rely On Government Websites, Sorry:  Along with the government shutdown has come the shuttering of many websites, ranging from the American Community Survey database to NASA.gov.  If You Rely on Government Programs, You May Not Have Them for Much Longer : As we enter week 2 of the shutdown,...

The last government shutdown came in the 1990s, so here is a quick refresher course. For more detailed information, please visit  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/30/absolutely-everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-the-government-shutdown-will-work/ . We will continue to update this page. If you see anything missing, or you have a question, please tell us in the comments! What happened?  Because the House and Senate could not come to an agreement about spending for the new fiscal year (which begins today) or an agreement on a continuing resolution to keep the government funded for a few more weeks of negotiation, the government has shutdown all nonessential services. Until a new agreement is reached, many federal offices will be closed, and nonessential workers (about 800,000) will be asked to remain at home without pay. Offices that operate with independent funding, such as the US Postal Service and the Federal Reserve, will remain open. Wh...