STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Walt Blackman is calling on Governor Katie Hobbs to declare a State of Emergency to protect Arizona families, veterans, and children from a looming disruption in food assistance caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown—while urging Arizona’s Democrat U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego to immediately vote to end the shutdown and stop the harm they are inflicting on Arizona families.

“With more than 400,000 Arizona families and 800,000 individuals relying on SNAP to put food on the table, Washington’s gridlock is causing real harm,” said Representative Blackman. “Senators Kelly and Gallego have repeatedly voted against a clean continuing resolution that would keep the government open. They can help end this shutdown today. It’s time they do their job.”

Representative Blackman urged Governor Hobbs to use her platform to press the senators to reverse course and to prepare Arizona for potential disruptions if they continue blocking action in Washington.

“Governor Hobbs shouldn’t stay silent while Arizona families and veterans face such uncertainty,” Representative Blackman said. “She should be calling on her party’s senators to vote now to reopen the government and protect Arizonans from the fallout they’ve caused.”

If the shutdown continues and federal SNAP funding stalls, Representative Blackman said Arizona must be ready to step in. He is urging the Governor to immediately:

• Declare a State of Emergency to release state funds and coordinate assistance efforts.
• Direct the Department of Economic Security to lead daily coordination with counties, tribal governments, and food banks.
• Provide emergency grants to frontline organizations such as St. Mary’s Food Bank and Desert Mission Food Bank to expand capacity.
• Activate 2-1-1 Arizona as the statewide hunger-relief hotline with veteran and multilingual support.
• Partner with the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services to place veteran navigators at major distribution sites.
• Work with school districts and local governments to open temporary food-distribution centers.
• Seek federal waivers to maintain SNAP and WIC benefits during the emergency period.

“Families in Navajo County, Gila County, and across rural Arizona are already struggling,” Representative Blackman added. “If Washington won’t act, Arizona must be ready. But Kelly, Gallego, and Hobbs could end this crisis today by putting politics aside and reopening the government.”

Arizonans in immediate need of food assistance can contact:
• St. Mary’s Food Bank — stmarysfoodbank.org | (602) 242-3663
• Desert Mission Food Bank — desertmission.com | (602) 870-6062
• 2-1-1 Arizona — Dial 2-1-1 or visit 211arizona.org

Representative Walt Blackman is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 7 and is Chairman of the House Government Committee. Follow him on X at @BlackmanForAZ.