Republicans on Indiana’s State Budget Committee rejected an effort to direct state surplus funding to low-income Hoosiers and food banks as federal SNAP benefits expire next month amid a federal shutdown.

Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, urged Indiana leaders to step up, arguing that hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers are at risk of losing the food aid they receive through SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

More than 571,000 Hoosiers were receiving SNAP benefits in September, the latest data available, according to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.

SNAP benefits are provided on an electronic benefit card that is used like a debit card and accepted at most grocery stores. The benefit is 100% federally funded and administrative costs are split 50

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