Michigan House adopts substitute urging Congress to reopen government, debate centers on SNAP funding

The Michigan House adopted a floor substitute to Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 that urges Congress to immediately reopen the federal government by passing a clean continuing resolution.

Representative Grant, speaking in opposition to the floor substitute, said the resolution "does not address the needs of Michiganders at this critical moment" and warned that a failure to restore emergency federal funding would force families to choose between groceries, utilities, prescriptions or gas. "Right now, 1.4 Michiganders depend on food assistance to keep food on their table," Grant said during floor debate.

Representative Robinson offered the floor substitute urging a clean continuing resolution. "We need a message built on cooperation and trust," Robinson said, arguing Congress should end gridlock and restore SNAP benefits and pay for federal employees and troops. The clerk recorded that the substitute was adopted; the House later adopted the concurrent resolution as amended.

The transcript shows extended debate over whether the state message should emphasize immediate emergency funding for SNAP and health care or urge a clean continuing resolution without broader federal conditions. Representative Grant said a clean continuing resolution could risk health-care resources; Robinson said a clean resolution would help restore SNAP benefits quickly.

No roll-call vote tallies for the substitute or final adoption are reported in the transcript excerpt. The record shows a floor substitute from Representative Robinson and a subsequent floor substitute from Representative McDonough identified as amendment number 2 (described in the record as dilatory); after further procedure the House adopted the resolution.

Discussion: The debate focused on the immediate human impacts of a federal shutdown (benefit interruptions for children, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities) and on the House’s role in sending a message to Congress. The debate did not result in a binding state policy change beyond the adopted concurrent resolution.

Looking ahead: The adopted resolution will be transmitted to federal officials and is a formal expression of the Michigan House’s position on reopening the federal government and restoring SNAP benefits as described in the adopted substitute.