To the editor:

House Representative Brad Finstad is the chair of the Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture subcommittee of the US House Committee on Agriculture. This subcommittee\\\’s jurisdiction is the policies and statutes relating to nutrition, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and domestic commodity distribution and consumer initiative; and policies and statutes related to foreign agricultural assistance and trade promotion; and related oversight of such issues.

It would appear that Rep Finstad is in the position to have the data and oversight authority to assist recipients of SNAP through the current budget situation. Join me in asking our representative in the US House to use emergency assistance to fulfill the SNAP obligations.

I understand Rep Finstad’s stance that he has fulfilled his responsibility to us by voting to pass the annual House Budget proposal. Since the US Senate isn’t able to pass this proposal, it appears there is the responsibility to continue to negotiate and collaborate. This is what democracy looks like.

Beth Zabel

New Ulm