The state plans to distribute $100 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding to reduce housing and utility costs to help make up for the temporary loss of federal SNAP benefits for 168,947 residents that begins on Saturday.

Two state senators on Tuesday were clearly disappointed that the state is not doing more to help SNAP recipients — 86,229 island households including 62,647 children — who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to put food on their tables after the Trump administration announced that it was suspending automatic SNAP funding on Saturday because of the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura (D, Puna) chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, which held an informational briefing at the state

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