SPRINGFIELD ─ State Senator Ram Villivalam advanced a measure through the Senate that would ensure townships are able to provide additional food assistance to residents.

“Residents across our communities have been faced with having to wonder where there next meal was going to come from as a result of cuts to SNAP benefits by the Trump Administration,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “As a result, our neighbors went hungry and local food pantries were left with little resources to fill in the gap.”

 As a result of H.R.1 – the federal budget bill – SNAP eligibility requirements have changed and funding was frozen for weeks, affecting millions of residents across Illinois. Without access to affordable, quality food, local food banks and pantries who were trying to fill in the gap were stretched thin.

Senate Bill 3565 would allow townships to use funding received and collected for public aid to establish and administer food banks as well as pantries for people who are in need – regardless of their eligibility for general assistance.

This would ensure that townships can continue to provide aid to residents, despite federal eligibility requirements for equivalent or similar programs, and that they can continue to invest funding into these services. 

“This measure will work to ensure that townships may invest their resources in a way that has a direct, positive impact on our residents and bolsters their ability to have access to quality, affordable food options,” said Villivalam.

Senate Bill 3565 passed the Senate Tuesday with 48 members in support and now heads to the House for further consideration.