HARRISBURG, PA — With more than two million Pennsylvanians facing the loss of federal food assistance this weekend, state House Democrats are advancing emergency legislation to use a portion of Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund to combat growing food insecurity across the state. The move comes as the federal budget impasse in Washington threatens to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, leaving food banks bracing for a surge in demand.
The proposal, led by Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Philadelphia, mirrors a companion measure in the Senate introduced by Sens. Art Haywood, D-Montgomery/Philadelphia, and Jay Costa, D-Allegheny. The initiative would provide $60 million in immediate aid — including $50 million to support local food banks in all 67 counties and $10 million for Meals on Wheels to deliver meals to seniors and people with disabilities. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture would coordinate the program’s rollout and oversight.
Khan, a nurse practitioner, said the legislation reflects an urgent moral and health imperative. “Kids can’t learn or grow when they’re hungry, and older adults shouldn’t have to skip meals to afford medicine,” he said. “Hunger harms the body and robs people of their dignity. No one in Pennsylvania should have to feel unsafe or ashamed because they can’t afford to eat.”
Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, who chairs the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, described the plan as essential to ensuring the stability of Pennsylvania’s charitable food system. “Our food banks and local producers work tirelessly to feed our communities, but they can’t do it alone,” he said. “This initiative gives our food network the stability and resources needed to meet the growing crisis head on.”
Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, chair of the Legislative Hunger Caucus, cautioned that the state’s food assistance infrastructure is nearing a breaking point as federal support dwindles. She said that without state funding, the charitable food network could struggle to meet demand once SNAP benefits are interrupted.
Potential Impact Across Pennsylvania
If passed, the $60 million relief package could provide short-term stability for food banks, many of which are operating at record demand following the expiration of pandemic-era assistance programs. The emergency funding would also help sustain operations in rural and low-income communities where food insecurity remains most severe.
Economically, the proposal could reinforce Pennsylvania’s agricultural and food distribution sectors by maintaining consistent demand for local products and ensuring food banks can continue sourcing from regional suppliers. Still, fiscal conservatives may argue against using the Rainy Day Fund — which holds about $8 billion — for temporary relief tied to federal gridlock, preferring to reserve those funds for broader economic downturns.
Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, is expected to emphasize the urgency of state action at a “People Over Politics” press event Thursday in Philadelphia alongside the Share Food Program and other hunger relief organizations. The event will call for bipartisan cooperation to fund essential programs such as healthcare, SNAP, and LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
The proposed PA Food Bank and Hunger Relief Program will be formally introduced in both chambers this week. Supporters say swift approval could allow state aid to reach food banks as early as December, providing a critical lifeline for families and seniors heading into winter.
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