State-funded food benefits for immigrants hits roadblock (SHNS, 6/27/24)

June 27, 2024 | Sam Drysdale, State House News Service

An attempt to restore state-funded food benefits for legally present immigrants met a dead end on Wednesday, with the leader of the House saying he was not aware of the amendment that would have done so, about two hours before it was dismissed.

Rep. Antonio Cabral filed an amendment to a $540 million fiscal 2024 supplemental budget that passed through the House on Wednesday to revive a program to expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to immigrants who are in Massachusetts legally, but may not be eligible for federal benefits.

Due to the patchwork nature of U.S. immigration laws, certain classes of immigrants who live in the country legally do not have access to federal benefits such as SNAP. Massachusetts used to provide state-funded SNAP for these residents, but ended the program in 2002.

The Legislature and Gov. Maura Healey revived the food assistance program, funding it at $6 million last winter — but the dollars ran out in two months. Cabral's amendment would have provided another $6 million to extend SNAP to the children of these immigrant families.

A reporter asked House Speaker Ron Mariano on Wednesday afternoon whether he supported the SNAP expansion program.

"First thing I've heard of it," he replied.

The speaker then asked the reporter how much the amendment would cost, to which the reporter replied "$6 million."

"That's a significant amount of money," Mariano said.

The amendment was dismissed on a voice vote without debate two hours later, lumped in with 42 other amendments in a large consolidated package.