Arizona Lawmaker Calls for Emergency Declaration to Prevent SNAP Crisis

Strategic Insights -

Arizona State Representative Walt Blackman has issued a call to action, urging Governor Katie Hobbs to declare a state of emergency to protect Arizona families, veterans, and children from a looming disruption in food assistance caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown. Representative Blackman also called on Arizona's Democrat U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego to immediately vote to end the shutdown and stop the harm they are inflicting on Arizona families.

The shutdown threatens over 400,000 Arizona families and 800,000 individuals who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to put food on the table. Representative Blackman stated that Senators Kelly and Gallego have repeatedly voted against a clean continuing resolution that would keep the government open. He urged Governor Hobbs to use her platform to press the senators to reverse course and to prepare Arizona for potential disruptions if they continue blocking action in Washington.

If the shutdown continues and federal SNAP funding stalls, Representative Blackman proposed several measures to protect Arizona families, including declaring a state of emergency, providing emergency grants to food banks, activating the statewide hunger-relief hotline, and seeking federal waivers to maintain SNAP and WIC benefits.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 400,000 Arizona families and 800,000 individuals rely on SNAP to put food on the table, with the shutdown threatening their access to this critical assistance program.
  • Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego have repeatedly voted against a clean continuing resolution that would keep the government open, despite the harm their actions are causing to Arizona families.
  • Governor Katie Hobbs is urged to declare a state of emergency to release state funds and coordinate assistance efforts, including providing emergency grants to food banks and activating the statewide hunger-relief hotline.
  • Representative Blackman has proposed several measures to protect Arizona families, including seeking federal waivers to maintain SNAP and WIC benefits during an emergency period.
  • St. Mary's Food Bank, Desert Mission Food Bank, and 2-1-1 Arizona are listed as resources for Arizonans in immediate need of food assistance.

Statistics:

  • Over 400,000 Arizona families rely on SNAP to put food on the table.
  • 800,000 individuals in Arizona rely on SNAP to access food assistance.
  • Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego have repeatedly voted against a clean continuing resolution that would keep the government open.
  • Representatives Blackman has proposed providing emergency grants of an unspecified amount to food banks such as St. Mary's Food Bank and Desert Mission Food Bank.
  • 2-1-1 Arizona is a statewide hunger-relief hotline that has been activated in the event of a SNAP crisis.

Sources:

  • Arizona House Republicans, Press Release, Representative Walt Blackman Calls on Governor Hobbs and Arizona's U.S. Senators to Act Now to Prevent SNAP Crisis (October 27, 2025)
  • Representative Walt Blackman, Chairman, House Government Committee
  • St. Mary's Food Bank, (602) 242-3663, stmarysfoodbank.org
  • Desert Mission Food Bank, (602) 870-6062, desertmission.com
  • 2-1-1 Arizona, (602) 570-1611, 211arizona.org