D.C. Council considers suing D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser over SNAP funding

By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political Writertmcqueen@afro.com D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) proposed an emergency resolution on Jan. 2 that would allow the council to sue or join a lawsuit against Mayor Muriel Bowser after her efforts to block the “Give SNAP a Raise Amendment Act of 2022.”& The legislation was passed by the D.C. Council last year and approved funding temporarily to supplement eligible residents. After waiting on additional implementation from the mayor, it is probable that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will no longer see an increase this month. Leaders are waiting on Bowser to release the funds needed to implement the initiative.& The new resolution, introduced on Jan. 2, entitled the “SNAP Litigation Authorization Act,” will be on the council’s agenda at their Jan. 9 meeting. It only needs one vote to pass and does not require congressional or mayoral review.& “On Jan. 1, more than 140,000 D.C. residents were supposed to receive an increase in SNAP benefits that we funded in the D.C. budget. Now, Mayor Bowser is blocking this food assistance from reaching families,” said Ward 4 Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George (D-D.C.) in her official statement on the matter. “Increased SNAP benefits are a necessary...